When it comes to robots, science fiction has conditioned us to think of androids – bipedal machines approximating the human form. But the next generation of robots may be based on very different types of animals: snakes, flies, locusts and even the multi-tentacle octopus.

Israeli scientists are hard at work on just such contraptions. Here’s a look at seven of the most fascinating designs that can help with everything from exploring our insides to cleaning up the mess we make on the planet.