Automne de la science: Quand les serpents nous inspirent

This event offers a fascinating look at how aquatic snakes inspire cutting-edge robotics. Marion Segall, a CNRS researcher at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, will share her work on the hydrodynamics of snake swimming and hunting. Attendees will learn how the shape of a snake's head, jaw opening, and skin texture influence its movement and attack efficiency.

Segall and her collaborators have developed 3D models that replicate the diverse morphologies of several snake species. These models help study the forces acting on a snake's head during underwater locomotion and prey capture. The findings are now being used by engineers to design agile aquatic robots capable of precise maneuvers in complex environments.

This free talk is part of the "Automne de la science" series in Paris libraries, which this year explores how nature inspires science. It's a unique opportunity to discover these often-misunderstood animals and their surprising contributions to technology.