The snake that saves lives

RoBoa was created in the Autonomous Systems Lab at ETH Zurich. It moves flexibly and efficiently through narrow spaces such as pipes or sewers and combs through debris in the wake of catastrophes. Its soft and pneumatic design make the snake-like robot safe for use by people and in dangerous environments where there is a danger of explosion and sparks must be avoided. RoBoa can currently extend up to a length of 100 metres. It is equipped with a speaker and microphone to allow direct communication with victims in the case of emergency. RoBoa was originally developed as part of a student focus project. Thanks to a Pioneer Fellowship, it is now close to market launch and could have a major impact on inspection and search and rescue operations.