China Robotic Snake: China deployed robotic snakes to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the GaoKao exam. These smart robots detect faults in power lines and perform inspections with human drones.

China's robotic snake

China Robotic Snake: Every year, a major exam is held in China, called GaoKao. It's China's largest college admissions exam, with approximately 12.9 million students taking it this year. This exam can change a student's entire life, so it's taken very seriously. If the power goes out for even a moment during the exam, the future of millions of students could be in danger. That's why China used a unique technology, a robotic snake, to test the power this time.

How do these robotic snakes work?

These robotic snakes look just like real snakes. Their bodies are made up of multiple joints, allowing them to easily wrap around electrical wires and slither back and forth. They are equipped with cameras and sensors that detect broken wires, worn parts, and abnormal temperatures. They were deployed in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, China. These robots can reach places where humans cannot easily reach, such as tall power poles or dangerous wires.

These robots proved to be three times better than humans and drones.

These robotic snakes inspected over 130 kilometers of power lines in the airport no-fly zone near the exam center, proving to be three times faster and more effective than human inspections. Drones are typically used to inspect power lines, but drones cannot fly anywhere, especially near high-voltage lines, as they experience electromagnetic interference that can cause them to go out of control. Furthermore, drone batteries drain quickly and are affected by  weather . Therefore, robotic snakes proved to be an excellent alternative.

This unique combination of technology and examination

This whole incident isn't just about a robot; it's an example of how vigilant China is about its students' exams. Robot dogs were also deployed to check electricity in high-voltage areas. Combined with drones and fixed monitoring systems, these robotic platforms constantly monitor power infrastructure. While millions of students were taking the biggest exam of their lives, robot snakes crawled across wires to ensure there wasn't a power outage, even for a moment. It was a unique combination of technology and human need that became a topic of discussion around the world.