Saturday, April 15, 2006

CNN: Snake robots could aid in rescues


'Breadstick' and 'Pepperoni' are being tested
Wednesday, April 12, 2006; Posted: 9:20 p.m. EDT (01:20 GMT)

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- For most people, snakes seem unpleasant or even threatening. But Howie Choset sees in their delicate movements a way to save lives.

The 37-year-old Carnegie Mellon University professor has spent years developing snakelike robots he hopes will eventually slither through collapsed buildings in search of victims trapped after natural disasters or other emergencies.

In recent weeks, Choset and some of his students made what he said was an industry breakthrough: enabling the articulated, remote-controlled devices to climb up and around pipes.

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