This is an artist’s idea of how a sensor and camera-equipped snakebot might be used to inspect scaffolding. The support doesn’t have to be circular for the robot to be able to climb up. It can also get past obstacles and continue on its way.

Snake-like robots that can climb scaffolding at high-rise construction sites, bend to defuse roadside bombs or descend down your esophagus to see your digestive tract may soon be helping construction workers, soldiers and doctors.

Researchers have developed a collection of snakebots that can literally roll up or down obstacles.

But the big idea behind the 3-foot-long snakebot is to use flexible universal joints to let the mechanical snake roll up poles, scaffolds and other structures.