A snake-like robot that measures 26 feet (8 metres) and is covered in short brush-like hairs has been built to probe disaster zones by Japanese scientists. The bizarre machine can climb over walls and rubble and has been designed to reach trapped people.
The machine can search inaccessible areas of collapsed homes after earthquakes and carry out checks on whether infrastructure is safe.
The innovative creation is the first snake-shaped robot in the world that can move with its camera-mounted front tip off the floor, which it does by firing a jet of air. Pictured is a view from the machine's camera during a test run in a house full of rubble.
The robot weighs 3kg (6.6 lbs) and travels at a speed of 10cm (3.9 inches) per second.
The team behind the robot said it was designed to assist and respond to crises around the world, and that it will be fully operational within three years.
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