When it comes to robots, science fiction has conditioned us to think of androids – bipedal machines approximating the human form. But the next generation of robots may be based on very different types of animals: snakes, flies, locusts and even the multi-tentacle octopus. Israeli scientists are hard at work on just such contraptions. Here's a look at seven of the most fascinating designs that can help with everything from exploring our insides to cleaning up the mess we make on the planet. Medrobotics' signature product, the Flex Robotic System, allows physicians to reach deep into the body with minimal risk.

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.

Letting a snake-like robot glide into your mouth and down your throat may sound a bit alarming. Letting such a robot glide into any of your other orifices may sound more alarming still. But the Flex Robotic System from Medrobotics, in Raynham, Mass., has earned high praise from a head and neck surgeon who has sent it snaking down 19 of his patients' throats as of today. "It really is changing the way I do business," says David Goldenberg, director of otolaryngology surgery at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. "It is the future of head and neck surgery."