Snakebot leaps 18-inch curbs in a single bound
By Barb Dybwad 
posted Mar 23rd 2005 7:00AM
posted Mar 23rd 2005 7:00AM
OmniTread is a serpentine robot developed by a University of Michigan team for intended usage in "industrial
inspection and surveillance" (workers: be on the lookout for snake spies!). It's tackled some impressive mobility feats
such as traversing rough terrain, climbing pipes and stairs, spanning wide gaps, and climbing an 18-inch curb that's
over twice its own height. It can move log-style by rolling, or inchworm-style by lifting its head or tail, as its
specially-designed treads propel it forward. Divided into five box-shaped segments, the robot snake has joints
containing bellows that expand or contract to allow turning and lifting. Peep the video below of the robotic worm doing
its snake-like thang.
Video: Snakebot
[WMV]
Very cool. You can see if the add more links to the snake, it would be able to traverse bigger trenches and bigger obstacles.
Cool beans
That thing is pretty cool. I don't know how effective it can be at surveillance if it is tethered to it's power source (I assume) like that; they'll have to figure out how to integrate a pretty hefty battery in there, but it could be very promising.