Technology
Snake robots designed by Carnegie Mellon deployed to search Venezuela quake rubble
Modular robots equipped with cameras navigated tight spaces in collapsed buildings after two devastating earthquakes killed thousands in Venezuela.
Ars Technica
Following twin earthquakes that devastated Venezuela on June 24, 2026, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University deployed innovative robotic systems into collapsed building debris to aid search and rescue operations. The four-foot-long devices—created by the university's Biorobotics Lab—could navigate spaces that traditional machinery and rescue teams could not access, extending rescuers' ability to locate survivors in the wreckage.
The dual quakes killed more than 5,000 people and left 16,740 injured, prompting a coordinated international response involving search dogs, thermal imaging equipment, and acoustic sensors. The snake robots, operated via video game controllers and tethered laptops, represented a novel technological addition to these efforts.
How the robots work#
Each snake robot features a modular design with swappable body segments and an integrated video camera. While human operators steer the device using a controller, onboard software algorithms automatically coordinate the robot's body movements to navigate from one location to another. "The reason why snake robots are useful is they can get into tightly packed volumes that machinery and people otherwise cannot," said Howie Choset, head of the Biorobotics Lab. "In a sense, you're doing minimally invasive surgery on a structure with a snake robot."
The lab has spent nearly two decades developing these robots for multiple applications—archaeological exploration, underwater missions, and even surgical assistance. Their first real-world search and rescue deployment came following Mexico City's September 2017 earthquake.
From concert to deployment#
The Venezuela mission unfolded rapidly after Beatriz Gonzalez, a Venezuelan expatriate living in Atlanta, contacted an AI chatbot seeking rescue assistance and was directed to information about the 2017 Mexico City operation. When she reached out to Choset's team, they committed to mobilizing—while preparing for a demonstration at a Pittsburgh anniversary concert sandwiched between performances by Third Eye Blind and Nelly.
The scramble that followed included preparing three robots with replaced cameras and extra batteries within 24 hours. The team faced an unexpected hurdle in Miami, where several private jet owners declined to fly to Venezuela due to government restrictions. With Gonzalez's assistance, they secured alternative transportation and arrived in Venezuela on June 30.
