Report: NASA unveils snake-like military robot for tunnel warfare
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has unveiled a snake-like, self-propelled robot to support tunnel warfare.
The Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) is designed to scout extreme terrain that is unreachable by tracked or wheeled platforms.
According to EELS principal investigator Masahiro Ono, the robot can traverse water, sand, rock, and ice.
He said the military could find the EELS useful because “you never know what the environments are or what kind of mobility is optimal.”
Once in service, the platform can be used to support surveillance and reconnaissance missions, especially in enclosed dynamic terrain.
Features
The EELS comprises multiple identical segments linked to create a mobile sidewinding snake.
It is driven by propulsion mechanisms and supported by communication links to deliver improved performance.
The technology was showcased during a conference in Maryland, where it slinked through ice-laden tunnels and entered the ocean.
NASA plans to subject the EELS robot to more extensive laboratory and field tests to include caves and tunnels used in tunnel warfare.
