All About Rescue Robots

Did you know rescue robots don't just exist in the movies? It's true, there are robots designed to aid in real life situations. Let's explore the different types of rescue robots and how they are deployed.

What are Rescue Robots?

Rescue robots are, as the name suggests, mechanical devices used to carry out search and rescue operations in a variety of scenarios, including large-scale crises like natural disasters.

Each robot is designed specifically for its intended environment whether that be land, sea or air. They can be deployed in conjunction with human teams for optimal efficiency and safety, or in situations where it is deemed too difficult or dangerous for a human to carry out the operation.

Types of Rescue Robots

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are familiar to most people, though perhaps not when purposed as rescue robots. They can be controlled remotely or fly autonomously, and when equipped with cameras, sensors and communication systems, drones can spot victims and assess damage in disaster zones.

Land robots, which are ground-based rescue vehicles, travel over rugged terrain or busy urban streets, using tracks or wheels for maneuvering. Some have cameras, sensors and even robotic arms so they can clear obstacles.

Water rescue robots, also called unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are usually built with sonar systems, cameras and robotic arms to find victims and inspect underwater structures.

Key Features and Technologies of Disaster Response Robots

Rescue robots can use artificial intelligence (AI) to sift through data, make decisions and complete tasks on their own or with minimal human assistance.

AI-powered robots can, for instance, determine the safest path through debris at a disaster scene like an earthquake, using data from previous incidents to find the best way in to search for victims.

Search and rescue missions are smoother, faster and often more accurate since humans don't always need to be in control.

Along with AI, rescue robots use sensors to interact with their surroundings. For example, drones with thermal imaging can find disaster victims in low light or at night, far beyond the human eye's capabilities. Other robots might use LiDAR, proximity sensors, gas sensors or acoustic sensors to understand a situation.

Utilizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a common function for rescue robots, used for navigation, coordinating multiple robots in the same area or mapping out disaster zones.

Benefits of Using Rescue Robots

Rescue robots have many benefits in disaster response and search-and-rescue situations, both for human rescuers as well as victims.

Increased safety

Some search and rescue tasks aren't safe for humans, like entering unstable buildings or toxic environments. Robots can do these jobs, which helps reduce the risk of injury or death of human rescuers.

Enhanced efficiency and speed

With their advanced technology, rescue robots can quickly and efficiently scan large areas, find victims and assess any damage. Powered by energy-dense batteries, they can work around the clock without getting tired and move faster than people. Faster disaster response means more lives saved.

Ability to access hard-to-reach or hazardous areas

While some places are too dangerous for humans, there are also places they simply can't get to. In tight spots in collapsed buildings, underwater or in areas with highly toxic gases, rescue robots gather information or locate victims in otherwise unreachable places.

Applications for Earthquakes

The sooner rescuers get to people trapped under rubble, the better their chances of surviving - injuries, lack of supplies and exposure can quickly lead to death.

Search and rescue robots can dig through debris and collapsed buildings, identifying and reaching trapped victims without causing further damage, all of which improves survival chances.

How advanced can this technology be?

Researchers and developers are experimenting with robots modeled after snakes, which can glide through rubble and debris after earthquakes. The RoBoa, developed by engineers at ETH Zurich, has flexible parts, including a long textile tube that supports its movement without much friction. This is important, as even tiny vibrations can shift debris after an earthquake.

The "snake's" head, which carries steering actuators, also contains cameras, lights, speakers, microphones and sensors. The "body" tube carries all of this technology into the rubble of almost any depth, allowing for extensive search with minimal environmental disturbance.

Examples of successful rescue missions in earthquake zones

After the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Syria and Turkey on February 6, 2023, Drone Hizmetleri joined search and rescue efforts with operators and a DJI Mavic Enterprise Dual 2 drone mounted with a thermal camera.

In this scenario, thermal cameras mounted to drones are key to identifying areas of high temperature which can alert rescuers to fire or other hazards. Drones with thermal imaging operate in low-light conditions or at night, which is critical in a disaster of this scale where a round-the-clock response is necessary.

Researchers are still learning and improving earthquake response. Two civil & environmental engineering students from the University of Illinois visited Mexico City after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in the fall of 2017, gathering data to help develop a drone-based system to assess structural damage.

Their goal was to speed up post-disaster recovery efforts by mimicking a human-led safety evaluation using algorithms and drone images. The images captured were used to create a 3D surface model of an earthquake-impacted building, which would then be used in an assessment to determine if the building was safe or if it needed a more detailed inspection.

Applications for Floods

During floods, underwater robots can help search for victims trapped below the water's surface. With sonar and cameras, these robots can dive into murky conditions where humans can't operate.

There are many examples of robots being used for search and rescue operations in these scenarios.

Examples of successful rescue missions in water

Hyrodnalix's Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard (EMILY) is a remote-controlled robot that works as a rescue board, equipped with an electric motor that propels it forward like a jet ski.

Operators can drop EMILY from the air into the water and drive it to people who need rescuing, reaching them at far greater speeds than a human lifeguard can travel.

The boat moves up to 25 miles per hour, is heat resistant and can endure long periods in the water. The devices are equipped with speakers so rescuers can calm and reassure stranded people. EMILY can carry up to five adults at a time, which makes it more efficient than a single human lifeguard.

EMILY's makers are exploring automation, thermal imaging and ways to slow the craft as it nears humans, as well as automatically translating the voice coming through the speakers.

Drones are also crucial during floods, as they assess the extent of the flooding and find stranded victims. In addition to delivering food and water, these planes can also provide medical kits.

For the first time, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) permitted a survey at a low altitude over a congested space.

The project enabled UAVs to deliver near-real-time, on-demand, high-resolution photography comparable to satellite or aircraft imagery. This, in turn, allowed for accurate mapping of the extent of the floods, property damage and infrastructure damage, all in urban areas. This benefited expeditious insurance claim validation and damage mitigation.

Applications for Wildfires

Rescue robots built to deal with wildfires and other firefighting scenarios are made with heat-resistant materials like alloys that maintain structural integrity at high temperatures.

Drones can also set prescribed burns in the path of approaching wildfires, dropping ping-pong-ball-sized incendiary devices to start purposeful fires that reduce fuel ahead of the larger fire.

Applications for Industrial Accidents

A rescue robot's main task in an industrial accident setting is to safely manage toxic or hazardous materials and conduct inspections and repairs in environments too dangerous for humans.

Robots handling toxic or hazardous materials safely

Thanks to advanced technology, robots are equipped with specialized grippers and containers to prevent spills and contamination of toxic and hazardous materials.

They can also be operated remotely and manage hazardous materials from a safe distance. Operators control the robots from a secure location, minimizing the risk of exposure. As the robots work, safety systems find leaks, spills and other issues and either stop them on their own or let operators know.

Inspection and repair tasks performed in unsafe environments

The robots are designed to withstand conditions like high temperatures, corrosive substances, and radiation. Equipped with sensors, AI and tools like welding torches and cutting tools, robots are able to repair structures, seal leaks and perform other tasks without human intervention.

In the meantime, human operators will find their jobs safer and easier, as they can use real-time data provided by robots to make informed decisions during inspections and repairs.

Challenges and Limitations

Rescue robots have many benefits, but they also present challenges and limitations that need to be addressed before they can become widely used in disaster response.

Technical limitations

As we know from electric vehicles, machines often have limited battery life. Therefore, rescue robots can benefit greatly from high energy-dense batteries and longer run time.

Another concern is that rescue robots may lack durability for long-term use in disasters. This can be particularly problematic in remote areas with limited access to power for recharging and repair capabilities.

Though purpose-built for challenging environments, even with advances in AI, rescue robots still face problems navigating autonomously. They may have trouble traversing obstacles, debris and unstable terrain, which makes it harder for them to reach victims.

Robots are not inexpensive, so it may prove tough to gain widespread approval of machine-based rescuers if they need constant repair or replacement.

Cost and accessibility in developing countries

A significant barrier to robot deployment in lower-income countries is the high cost, particularly for organizations with limited budgets.

Financial constraints can keep robots away from places where they could be most helpful. In these regions, access to advanced robotic technology is also limited because of factors like technical expertise, infrastructure and maintenance abilities. These countries may also lack trained operators and technical support.

Future of Rescue Robots

Emerging technologies

We are likely to see unprecedented capabilities in robot rescuers in the coming years, thanks to advanced AI and 5G technology.

For example, drones are being used in remote areas in Scotland to test pop-up mobile phone networks to assist search and rescue missions.

By setting up temporary 5G networks in minutes, these drones can send heat-detecting camera footage to command centers in real time for quicker, more informed rescue operations.

Ongoing research and development in the field

To better manage disasters, researchers are improving rescue robots to be more reliable, user-friendly and better at communicating.

With advancements in different capabilities, AI and durability, the goal is to keep improving systems that can assist human rescuers or take over operations in dangerous situations.

Researchers are working to improve mobility, sensing and human-robot interaction to create flexible but strong robotic rescue systems. They are building robots that can adapt their movement depending on the circumstances, upgrading sensing abilities in places where GPS is unavailable and experimenting with user-friendly control techniques like gestures.

Battery technology is poised to play an important role in the expanding functionality, range and effectiveness of rescue robots, wherever they are deployed around the globe.

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