July 3, 2009
Israeli military scientists have reportedly designed a robotic snake which can spy on enemies and plant bombs.
The robotic snake can even stand up vertically to peer over obstacles, reports Sky News.
The remote-controlled reptile is able to sneak through cracks in buildings to gather information on enemy combatants, according to Israel's Channel 2 TV.
Researchers studied the movements of snakes to ensure that the robotic equivalent mimics them correctly.
A soldier controls the snake from a remote laptop and can follow what it sees via video cameras.
Footage posted online shows the six-foot long snake in camouflage gear, winding its way through rocks and tree stumps.
The video is getting thousands of hits on YouTube after a user called 'Korozzz' posted it.
The Israel Defence Forces plan to equip combat units with the models, which could also be used to find survivors trapped in collapsed buildings.
A TV report said the snake is in the experimental stage and the cost of producing multiple versions is as yet unknown.
Researchers at Israel's Ben-Gurion University inspired the design after undertaking a robotic animals project.
