Some of our researchers here at Oregon State University are looking at snake scales to understand how they move. The key is in the lipid molecules of the ventral scales. What will come from this new found knowledge? Well, robotic snakes have been suggested to rescue people from collapsed buildings.
Here is the paper, http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/ ... 0817#sec-2. You can also read a couple articles on the topic, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015 ... lithering/ and http://www.gizmodo.in/science/This-Is-W ... 600802.cms.
Cheers, Heather
Snakes, lubrication, and robots -- recent research at OSU
Moderator: Scott Waters