The object
Shigeo Hirose created the ACM III snake-like robot and developed later articulated robots that crawl, swim and negotiate obstacles. These physical machines established a practical robotics lineage for disaster response, pipe inspection and nuclear-cleanup work where wheeled or human access is difficult.
What Shigeo did
Created the ACM snake-like robots and developed later mobile robots for rescue, inspection and hazardous environments with students.
Why it matters
Science Tokyo calls the 1972 ACM III a forerunner of later snake robots and reports that Hirose developed well over 100 robots.
Living-status check
Science Tokyo’s current research story, reviewed in July 2026, includes Hirose’s first-person account and describes his continuing research activity after university retirement.