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"the [science fiction] writer should be able to convince the reader (and himself) that the wonders he is describing really can come true...and that gets tricky when you take a good, hard look at the world around you."
- Frederik Pohl

Robot Snake Spy  
  A small robot in the shape of a snake, used for field work by spies.  

How to retrieve a small amount of material from a person held captive in a small cottage?

The coil on the table appeared to be a snake - tan and brown with black specks and a spade-shaped head. It did not look alive and it did not look dead.

...He reached down and partially uncoiled the snake, then squeezed its middle. A small hatch popped open, giving a glimpse of gleaming steel ribs and wires. He placed the tube inside the snake, then closed the hatch.

"The snake has hi-res terrain mapping tied in with augmented GPS, and in this model, face and voice recognition... Within sight of a targeted individual - I mean, the intended individual - it will make an audible announcement and open its hatch."

Technovelgy from Mariposa, by Greg Bear.
Published by Vanguard Press in 2009
Additional resources -

Interesting science-fictional predecessors to this idea include the mining worm robot from Love Among the Robots (1946) by Emmett McDowell, the robot snake from Bait for the Tiger (1952) by Lee Chaytor, the robot earthworm from War with the Robots (1962) by Harry Harrison, the mechanical cobra from Lord of Light (1967) by Roger Zelazny and the digger worm from With Friends Like These (1985) by Connie Willis.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Mariposa
  More Ideas and Technology by Greg Bear
  Tech news articles related to Mariposa
  Tech news articles related to works by Greg Bear

Robot Snake Spy-related news articles:
  - Snakebot Conquers Obstacle Course
  - Terrifying Robot Snake's Flying, Coiling Attack
  - Robot Snakes Now With Partitioned Gait

Articles related to Surveillance
LingYuan Vehicle Roof Drones Now Available, ala Blade Runner 2049
Chameleon Personalized Privacy Protection Mask
Spherical Police Robot Rolls In China
Vietnam To Have Full Biometric Transparency

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