An animal-inspired robot has been developed NASA to search for life on nearby planets and their moons.

EELS could be a combination of an eel, snake, and worm, and has the kinetic powers to explore diverse and varied terrain, assessing how hospitable and potentially habitable near and far alien worlds are, such as Saturn’s sixth largest moon, Enceladus.

Data collected by the Cassini spacecraft shows that there is an ocean beneath the icy surface of Enceladus. Jets of material exploding on its surface lead straight to the water and are potentially the easiest route to a habitable ocean.

There are many hypotheses about the environment below the surface of Enceladus, based on various models of eruptions. With the varied landscape of the Moon in mind, NASA JPL designed EELS to adapt to any conditions in the future, the long journey from the moon’s surface to the ocean.

Their adaptability will allow access to other hard-to-reach places, such as the polar regions of Mars and steep crevices in the Earth’s ice sheets. The lab works with geoscientists so that EELS can test their capabilities during missions to hard-to-reach places.

EELS are self-propelled robots made up of many identical parts with different drive and motor mechanisms, as well as power and communication electronics for their movement.

For the first time in this class of robots for underwater movement, rotating propellers are used that perform the functions of caterpillars, traction mechanisms and propellers.

Theoretically, EELS could lay a pipeline down Enceladus to its oceanic source.

With its ability to adapt to different types of terrain, the system can contribute to the exploration of Ocean World, allowing for in-depth exploration in areas that were once inaccessible.

NASA source