NASA’s Snake Robot: Searching for Life on Saturn’s Moon

NASA is developing a snake-like robot called the EELS that can explore locations that are otherwise unreachable on Earth, the moon, and other planets in the solar system.

The EELS is being developed to autonomously map, travel, and explore thin and inhospitable locations, such as Enceladus’ surface vents, in search of underground waters. The robot uses eight stereo cameras and lidar to build a 3D map of its surroundings and navigation algorithms to choose its safest course.

The EELS will contain 48 tiny motors in its finished configuration, providing it with a great deal of flexibility, but also making things more complicated for the hardware and software teams.

Additionally, built-in force-torque sensing in many of these actuators will allow the EELS to “feel” how much force is being applied to the area, functioning like a thin layer of skin.