Deep in the heart of Little Italy in Manhattan, a ''robotic inchworm'' has been born, capable of welding underground steam pipes. With a few modifications, a new generation of these robo-inchworms may be called upon someday to burrow beneath alien worlds in search of life.

Sound like a science fiction tale? Hardly.

This is the actual work of Honeybee Robotics, a small company upstairs from a fashion boutique on Elizabeth Street.

The company provides machines to industrial clients and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Two years ago, Honeybee's engineers were working concurrently on the welding robot, for Consolidated Edison, and on a drilling system for investigating Mars.

''They were both up on the white board, and we kind of had a eureka moment,'' said Stephen Gorevan, the Honeybee chairman.