Ground, Aerial, and Marine Rescue Robots of the Year Announced at National Robotics Week

With the 2018 hurricane season just weeks away, the independent not-for-profit Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR) announced the first ever Disaster Robotics Awards. Awards were announced for the 2018 Ground, Aerial, and Marine Rescue Robots of the Year on April 14, 2018 during a National Robotics Week ceremony at SEAD Gallery in Bryan, … Continue reading “Ground, Aerial, and Marine Rescue Robots of the Year Announced at National Robotics Week”

#Mexico #Earthquake Overview of robots and earthquakes: background and how they can help

Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the responders in Mexico. CRASAR has not been contacted about robots but this blog may be of use in thinking about how to use robots. Ground, aerial, and marine robots have been used in several earthquakes. A good overview of ground robots for structural collapse … Continue reading “#Mexico #Earthquake Overview of robots and earthquakes: background and how they can help”

Italian Earthquake: Recommendations for using ground and aerial robots for immediate lifesaving

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Italian people impacted by the earthquake. We’ve reached out to colleagues in Italy in case any of us here can be of assistance. Below is a general overview of what might be useful and why. From the scanty news reports in the US, my guess is that … Continue reading “Italian Earthquake: Recommendations for using ground and aerial robots for immediate lifesaving”

Japanese earthquake: how ground, aerial, and marine robots could be used for response

We have been watching with distress the earthquake in Japan and offered any assistance we could provide- however, the first 48 hours are critical for life saving. The International Rescue System Institute (Tokoku University) and the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (Texas A&M University)  are the only two centers devoted to disaster robotics, and … Continue reading “Japanese earthquake: how ground, aerial, and marine robots could be used for response”

Robots for earthquakes- history of use of ground, aerial, and marine systems plus best practices

Our hearts go out to the victims, families, and responders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Here are links to  history of use of unmanned ground, aerial, or marine systems for earthquakes (8 previous uses in China, Haiti,  Italy, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand) suggestions for using small UAVs for earthquake response and recovery And from our home … Continue reading “Robots for earthquakes- history of use of ground, aerial, and marine systems plus best practices”

Four Surprises about the Use of Unmanned Ground, Aerial, and Marine Vehicles for Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones

Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones form a category of meteorological events referred to as cyclonic activity.  They damage large areas and destroy the transportation infrastructure, interfering with the ability of agencies to find and assist people in distress, restore power, water, and communications, and prevent the delivery of supplies. As I describe in my TED talk, … Continue reading “Four Surprises about the Use of Unmanned Ground, Aerial, and Marine Vehicles for Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones”

Washington State Mudslides Highlight Challenges for Ground and Aerial Rescue Robots

All of our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, families, and responders.  I am already being asked about how robots could be used for the horrific mudslides in Washington State.  To the best of my knowledge, robots have been used only once for a mudslide. That was the CRASAR deployment in 2005 for … Continue reading “Washington State Mudslides Highlight Challenges for Ground and Aerial Rescue Robots”

East Harlem Building Collapse: role of ground robots

It doesn’t appear that small ground rescue robots are being used to assist in the search and rescue of the terrible East Harlem building collapses-if you know of any being used please let me know. We offered our robots to DHS the same day and also New Jersey Task Force 1 and the New Jersey … Continue reading “East Harlem Building Collapse: role of ground robots”

Law Enforcement, First Responder, Border Patrol ground robot market

WinterGreen Research announces a new study that is looking at robots used by Law Enforcement, First Responder, Border Patrol. As the US military pulls out of Iraq and Afghanistan, they have many robots built to help soldiers. The question is how can these robots be used now, and were they effeicntive. Many Law Enforcement, First … Continue reading “Law Enforcement, First Responder, Border Patrol ground robot market”