Putting a snake in the sub

The task: To develop a device that can be put into a cramped nuclear submarine hull, reach through a small aperture into the reactor chamber, and carry out repair tasks in positions frequently inaccessible to human hands ‐ and in an environment of low dosage radiation. Rolls‐Royce and Associates believe the only solution appears to be a snake‐like robot which is now under development, but threatened by a limited defence budget. The company reckons there could be other applications for such a robot and is looking for additional industrial sponsorship.