Serpent Science: DARPA Wants to Know Flying Snakes' Secret

New one on me...most snakes in the swamps of the U.S. only jump off a spot above grade when they see escape as their only option (they always try to strike prey when mounted upon a solid object). I wonder if any hunt using the "flying" method-it sure would put them at a great stategic advantage!

Bad-ass snakes!!! I can definately see DARPA using this trait to make some kind of snake-gliding missle to launch from a high up drone or something.

It looks almost like an air-screw motion.

Woody: "Th-that's not flying.... That's... falling with style!"

LOL^^

alias007
I believe the Scientific term is gliding.

Moose and Snake ?

One might surmise, that if a mechanical version were to be able do do the same thing, only MUCH faster, it might be able to sustain flight, in total silence. It would also be extremely (RADAR) stealthy and it's would likely prove more evasive and difficult to see or track ...

.... It clearly can move on land ... could prolly slide thru water (moccasan), as well.

It can climb trees ... Infiltrate air vents ... Slither up anchor and mooring lines ... navigate sewers and plumbing ... can cooperate, in swarms. ... Hide in plain sight. Can be painted to look like pipes and cables. Could slide down your home toilet vent and out your toilet ... chew a hole in the underside of a sofa or bed-springs and just hang out.

Could also prove fun at pajama parties.

... Land, Sea, Air, Stealth ... What more could a girl ask for?

What about a pizeoelectric missle? It could change shape in mid-air, and fly much more efficently than a normal missle. Another thing would be a pizeoelectric robot snake, allowing for a more mobile snake robot. Parachutes for quick escapes would not be bad either. But this is just speculation.

I doubt this could lead to sustained flight. Swimming and slithering snake robots have already been built. I imagine they want to build a robot snake that can be air-dropped over enemy territory to engage in surveillance or perhaps attack a single combatant. Equipped with night vision, a great way to go after people holed up caves.

They are making SIDEWINDER missiles!

I've been wondering if we are at the point of being able to make a solar and helium piezoelectric wing that has a basic air density tracking program allowing it to climb to space?

Got to agree with all of you guys. That isn't flying, but it IS totally kick-ass. Even if I suffer from herpetophobia, this is awesome. It seems to be partially kinetic-energy-powered, and I'm not talking about the energy generated by gravity; the snake is throwing it's weight forward, thus propelling itself in a manner similar to a person dangling from their ankles by a rope. I can see this being integrated into an experimental fighter-plane.The "S-14 Copperhead". Top Fang! Highway to the Slither-Zone!
So THAT'S how the mother effing snakes got on the mother effing plane!

Bad puns, dodgey word-wizardry, groan-worthy movie references and such aside, this could be a very nimble fighter. It could even become the world's only true ATV, capable of traveling in water, over and under land, and through the air. Maybe even the first aircraft that has the ability to go from flight to darting around underwater with little to no transition time. I must begin work on this immediately!

during flight, it looks like the snake uses its tail like a slingshot to create a forward motion, you can clearly see the tail being pretty long and thin with some sort of weight at the end.

For years the Chinese have studied the art of making the body lighter than air and only very few have found that path to inlightenment due to how difficult it is to bring your mind to that state .All of us have the ability but only few will achieve this state without some heavy drugs