If you've been watching your medical documentaries like a good little couch potato, you might be aware of the science of endoscopy - the process of sticking a camera into your special places to see what's going on inside your body. (nostalgia, Newb? :D)
While this is infinitely better than being cut open, it's still pretty invasive. Then came the "swallow-able camera" that wasn't as creepy. Trouble is, these cameras can't be controlled, and may sometimes not show doctors the picture they're looking for.
What they would really like is a camera they can control, but since the camera's size is limited to a regular capsule, the possibilities are limited.
Or so you'd think.
A group of researchers called ARES is now working on a robotic camera that will assemble itself in your stomach. It'll be broken up into functional pieces - camera, processor, battery and so on--and will attach to each other using magnets. You'll be swallowing each of these components one by one, and they'll "find" one another and assemble. Once that's done, the doctor can take control of the little bugger and have it wiggle its way through your innards.
Sure, we're flinching at the thought too, but it's either this or a snake-bot entering you the way nothing should be allowed to enter.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/21401/?a=f