What better to snake through a bunch of debris to rescue people than, well, a snake?  Researchers at Japan's Tohoku University have created the Active Scope Camera, which is basically a snake-like robot with a camera.

The robot uses a fiber-optic camera and it is covered with tiny cilia bristles which allow it to move rather like a cross between a snake and a millipede, The robot has a length of 8 meters, a diameter of 2.5 cm,  and it has the capability of climbing up 20 cm by extending its body. 

The university recently tested the device in a collapsed building in the USA, and it passed the challenges. The team hope to have it in action next year.

via