Snake-Arm Robot Created, Bionic Inflatable Tubeman to Follow
August 18th, 2008
Colonoscopies of the future could look very different thanks to new tech developed by OC Robotics. Uncoiled from its suitcase-sized box, the 24 inch snake-arm measures only 1/2 inch in diameter. Unlike traditional endoscopes which are floppy and hard to control, the snake-arm is fully robotic, making it easy to navigate through small spaces. Robotic arms are typically not sufficient in this kind of work because of their “elbows”–robotic joints get in the way and make it nearly impossible to execute tight, multi-turn maneuvers.
Controlling the robot seems pretty simple, a tip-mounted camera allows the operator to steer the front with a joystick, and software makes the rest of the bot follow the tip. “A snake-arm robot is effectively a controllable endoscope which can snake into awkward or cluttered environments to conduct real work.”
Ol’ snake-arm was designed for the US Department of Defense for working and viewing inside crazy spaces. The device has other possible implementations besides government/military use. It could allow people who have to work in dangerous confined spaces to do their jobs remotely via snake-arm. The bot also has promise in the field of medicine where it could be used for minimally invasive surgery or even natural orifice surgery.
It will be interesting to see how this technology develops and is utilized. This is probably the best thing to come out of OC Robotics since the antics of Robot Ryan and Robot Seth (we were so sad when Robot Marissa died).
