Asking firefighters, police officers, and other professionals to risk their lives to help people in disasters is a necessary part of the job. Is it? The growing use of rescue robots in emergencies and disasters is going to change how first responders work, save more lives, and reduce damage. To illustrate what’s possible, consider how robotics makes a big difference in Japan.

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Robots to the Rescue in Japan

Japan has a well-deserved reputation for developing earthquake-resistant buildings. Over the course of the 20th century, thousands of people have died in Japan’s earthquakes. Over 3,000 are estimated to have died in the June 1948 Fukui earthquake. Due to geology, Japan is subject to significant earthquake risk, and that reality isn’t going to change. As a result, Japanese engineers and leaders are highly motivated to find ways to reduce the impact of earthquakes.

The RoboCue, a robot used by the Tokyo Fire Department, is one rescue robot already in use. Originally designed to retrieve victims near bomb sites, the robot uses infrared cameras and ultrasonic technology to locate people who may be trapped under debris. These sensors are critical because injured people may not be able to call for help. The robot loads people on a platform so that they can be moved away to a safer area. In an earthquake zone, this kind of robot could be used to explore damaged buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure for victims. It requires remote guidance from a human operator to find people.

Dragging people away from a rescue site isn’t the only way to help people in a disaster. In a collapsed building, a large robot like the RoboCue may not be able to navigate. That’s why you need smaller robots, such as a snakebot. This robot technology builds upon an earlier technology: video fiberscopes. The main difference is that the snakebot developed by Satoshi Tadokoro of Tohoku University can climb 20-degree inclines and navigate around obstacles up to 6 inches in height. By using several of these devices, search and rescue staff can assess the damage and determine the best way to rescue people.

How the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Event Inspired a New Generation of Rescue Robots

A nuclear accident makes it difficult for human rescuers to help in a disaster. Radiation from nuclear facilities can prove fatal immediately and significantly increase your chances of developing other illnesses. Unfortunately, few robots were available that could operate in such conditions.

To respond to this challenge, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) stepped in to encourage innovation. The organization’s robotics challenge required new robots that could: “engage an emergency shut-off switch, get up from a prone position, walk for 10 meters without falling, pass over a barrier and rotate a circular valve 360 degrees.” Let’s review some of the hardware used in robots entered into DARPA’s challenge.

• Accelerometers: To navigate safely, this device helps disaster rescue robots gauge their speed. Imagine what it’s like for a robot to move through debris. It’ll need to move slowly to avoid being knocked over. Accelerometers help the robot to manage speed effectively.
• Gyroscopes: When a robot needs to change direction, how does it stay oriented? Gyroscopes play a role in maintaining a robot’s balance. With humanoid-style robots, gyroscopes are essential to maintaining balance. Since disaster areas are likely filled with debris, robotic balance is a key feature for disaster robots.
• 3D laser scanners: Some rescue robots, such as the Momaro (developed by researchers in Germany), use 3D laser scanners to create detailed maps of the surrounding area. This feature is helpful because it gives rescue staff detailed maps of the rescue site.
• Robotic hands: To assist people in disasters, robots need to be able to pick up and remove wood and other materials. Therefore, rescue robots need sensitive grips to detect pressure and move debris carefully. For more insight into robotic hands and similar devices, check out our article: Artificial Skin and Direct Brain Controls: The Future of Robot Prosthetics.

Four Ways to Save Lives with Disaster Assistance Robots

How exactly can police, firefighters, and other professionals use robots to help in a disaster situation? Based upon current technology, here are some of the most popular options.

• Information gathering: Before entering a disaster area such as a failed nuclear power plant or partially collapsed building, rescue personnel needs detailed information. Rescue robots can be sent to gather data in the form of photos, videos, and 3D maps created by laser and thermal images.
• Disaster site preparation: Climbing over broken furniture, wood, bricks, and other debris is hazardous! To reduce the risk of injury, use rescue robots to clear a path. Once the area has been prepared, rescue will be much easier to carry out.
• Direct rescue: In some cases, rescue robots can help people directly. The RoboCue, already in use in Japan, can transport people away.
• Deliver materials for assistance: Helping people who’ve suffered a disaster in a remote area – such as a large-scale forest fire – is tough. In those conditions, you can use robots to deliver food, water, and first aid supplies. Such deliveries will help victims stay alive while a full rescue is planned.

The Need for Rescue Robots Will Increase Dramatically for Two Reasons

Rescue robots are due to explode in popularity for two critical reasons. First, emergency personnel now understand the risks of injury in disaster situations to a greater degree. To reduce the risk of injury, rescue robots will be used more often to obtain real-time data on the situation. Second, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of natural disaster events, such as floods and wildfires. To keep up with the demand for rescues, robots will play a vital role.