Search and Rescue

Snake robots slithered into Venezuela’s collapsed buildings. They came back with no survivors.

Snake robots developed by Carnegie Mellon University's Biorobotics Lab were deployed in Venezuela following earthquakes to search collapsed buildings. Led by Howie Choset, the robots, controlled via video game controllers, were able to navigate tight spaces inaccessible to other search methods. While they did not locate any survivors, the robots provided valuable data and extended the visual reach of rescue workers, offering a glimpse into areas previously unreachable.