Zurich engineers build robot snake to save lives

A snake-like robot that extends to the length of a football field can slither through narrow spaces, such as rubble, to aid in rescue missions.

RoBoa was created by engineers at the Autonomous Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, a research university in Switzerland, and further developed as a commercial spin-off.

The robot moves “in a very special way” and can reach places inaccessible to humans, drones, and other devices, according to its designers.

The robot’s flexible construction allows it to move easily through confined spaces like pipelines and sewers, with potential applications in industries such as wastewater, power or chemicals.

In rescue operations, it can be used to comb through debris in search of survivors.

“For example, after an earthquake, RoBoa can go into a collapsed building, search for victims, localize them, communicate with them, and supply them with liquids,” said Alexander Kübler, co-founder of the startup developing the robot.

The liquid supply system can be used to deliver water, food, and medicine to the victims in emergencies. The robot is equipped with sensors for data collection, along with a speaker and a microphone for direct communication with the survivors.

“Thanks to the way our robot moves, we can basically go over any surface, whether it’s sticky, dirty, or has a lot of gravel,” Kübler said.

RoBoa runs on a pneumatic mechanism, making it safe to use in explosive environments. Its diameter is adaptable, ranging from 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in), allowing the robot to enter tight spaces quickly.

While the current prototype is about 20 m (over 65 ft) long, it can be extended to 100 m (328 ft), the developers said. Made from soft materials, the robot can neither harm humans nor scratch delicate surfaces.

“RoBoa uses a special growth-based locomotion. It’s a soft fabric tube that grows into the environment. It minimizes friction while eliminating the need for traction,” said co-founder Pascal Auf der Maur.

The developers collaborated with the Swiss rescue troops to develop the robot. RoBoa adds to efforts to keep humans out of harm's way by sending robots to perform hazardous jobs instead.

Earlier this year, a fully autonomous Spot robot, developed by Boston Dynamics, was deployed to perform maintenance work at the UK’s experimental nuclear fusion facility – a world first.