The paradise tree snake belongs to a particularly unique family of serpents capable of “flying” through the air, likely much to the dismay of anyone suffering from ophidiophobia. After launching themselves from tree branches in southeastern Asia, the Chrysopelea paradisi flattens their bodies to become more aerodynamic, then undulates in a specific pattern to soar as far as 25 meters in a single flight.
It’s an impressive feat, but not necessarily the first animal you’d expect scientists to mimic when designing new robots. A team of researchers from both University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, however, recently saw potential in the snake’s talent, and used computational analysis to break down its movements’ intricacies for potential future advances in robotic mobility.
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