Snake robots slither into our hearts, literally

The biblical narrative of the Garden of Eden describes how the snake became the most cursed of all beasts: "you shall walk on your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life." The reptile's eternal punishment is no longer feared but embraced for its versatility and flexibility. The snake is fast approaching as one of the most celebrated robotic creatures for roboticists worldwide in out maneuvering rovers and humanoids. Last week, while General Electric experienced a tumult in its management structure, its Aviation unit completed the acquisition of OC Robotics – a leader in serpent arm design. GE stated that it believes OC's robots will be useful for jet engine maintenance, enabling repairs to be conducted while the engine is still attached to the wing by wiggling into parts where no human hand could survive.