MIT'S SNAKE-INSPIRED SOFT ROBOT CRAWLS THE SMALL INTESTINE USING KIRIGAMI TRACTION SLEEVES

Summary from the TLDR Hardware newsletter

MIT built a tethered soft enteroscope to cover the small intestine, a 20- to 25-foot tube that double balloon enteroscopy currently covers slowly by hand. Four-chamber inflatable actuators bend and extend the body, anchoring balloons at the head and tail take turns gripping, and kirigami sleeves pop out needles for traction. In animal tests, it advanced about 6.5 feet and used its camera, drug sprayer, and biopsy clips.