This Robotic Water Snake Is Both Graceful And Utterly Terrifying


Do snakes freak you out? How about the idea of being hunted down and killed by robots either of their own accord, or on orders from someone else? If you said yes to either of those questions, chances are you’ll find this video a little freaky, but enthralling nonetheless.

The little guy featured in this clip is the HiBot ACM-R5, a robotic snake designed for underwater movement, and evidentially designed quite well. There’s something graceful and almost majestic about the way it twists and turns through the water, and the video’s soundtrack certainly helps play up that part.

By the same token though, there’s something menacing about it. A robo-snake version of Jaws is way too easy to imagine. Either way, it’s fascinating to watch…from all the way over here where it’s safe. [IEEE Spectrum]