Snake robots : A review of research, products and applications

Purpose – This paper aims to provide details of recent snake robot research, products and applications. Design/methodology/approach – Following a short introduction to snake robots, this paper considers a selection of key research activities and then describes a number of commercial products. Examples of applications are then provided and are followed by brief conclusions. Findings – In contrast to many other classes of robots, snake robots are being studied by only a relatively small number of academic groups. Despite their unique abilities, commercialisation has so far been very limited. Real and potential applications exist in fields that include the nuclear power sector, security and defence, aerospace, oil and gas, civil engineering and urban search and rescue. Originality/value – This paper reviews the preset-day status of snake robot research and provides details of commercial products and their applications.