Human lungs are a maze and bronchial tubes can be a tight squeeze.
Navigating through them for medical procedures is a delicate and challenging activity.
The current standard for exploring bronchial tubes is abronchoscope, which is limited in which areas it can reach.
The tentacle-like unit under development is controlled by magnets on robotic arms set up outside of the patient.
Valdastri supervised the research, which waspublished in the journal Soft Roboticson Monday.
The team put the magnetic tentacle robot through tests using a 3D replica of a bronchial tree.
The university said it could take several years before the technology is available in a hospital setting.
Perhaps it will have earned a less intimidating name by then.
