The idea was further explored by Torleif Holt and Thor Thornsen, scientists at Norwegian research center SINTEF.

FORBES: Getting Power From Salty Water

Besides providing support in dangerous situations like tunnel fires, SINTEF envisions future versions of Anna being used to locate and provide oxygen to earthquake victims or perform maintenance on underwater oil rigs.

ENGADGET: Anna Konda: the firefighting snakebot

So it looks like firefighters may be the next unlucky professionals replaced by cheap robotic labor, at least if a snakebot built by the Foundation for Industrial and Scientific Research in Norway (SINTEF) ever makes it into mass production.

ENGADGET: Anna Konda: the firefighting snakebot