NASA's Unique Snake Robot Prepares for Space Mission

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is designing a snake-like robot called the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) to explore Saturn's moon Enceladus, which has the potential for life. The 220-pound robot has 10 identical segments that rotate, propelling it forward on any terrain. EELS is equipped with four pairs of stereo cameras and lidar to create a 3D map of its surroundings and make autonomous decisions due to communication lag. The team hopes to finish development in 2024 and submit a proposal to send it to Enceladus.