After a disaster like an earthquake or explosion, the first 72 hours are crucial for finding anyone trapped. Beyond this timeframe, survival rates decrease significantly.

Take the earthquake that hit central Italy on August 24, 2016, resulting in 299 fatalities. Over 5,000 emergency responders were quickly mobilized and succeeded in rescuing many individuals from the debris in the immediate aftermath.

However, the urgency of these operations poses significant risks to first responders, who often work in unpredictable settings with little information. A collaboration between researchers from the EU and Japan aims to make these rescue missions safer and more effective.

These experts have created sturdy mini robots outfitted with advanced sensors to assist search and rescue teams in locating survivors following earthquakes and similar emergencies.

Helping First Responders

A partnership of rescue organizations, research institutes, and companies from Europe and Japan has spent four years, from 2019 to 2023, developing innovative tools that combine robotics, drone tech, and chemical sensing for use in disaster response.

This initiative is part of CURSOR, a four-year international research program involving partners from six EU nations, Norway, the UK, and Tohoku University in Japan.

The team believes their sophisticated rescue equipment will not only help rescuers find trapped individuals more quickly but will also enhance the safety of the responders themselves.

“In search and rescue, there aren’t many technologies aimed at supporting first responders, and those that exist often have limitations,” explained Tiina Ristmäe, research coordinator at the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief and vice president of the International Forum to Advance First Responder Innovation.

Introducing the Rescue Robots

At the center of this research is a small robot called the Soft Miniaturized Underground Robotic Finder (SMURF). This robot is built to navigate through rubble and collapsed structures to locate individuals trapped beneath the debris.

The goal is to allow rescue teams to conduct more of their work remotely, enabling them to pinpoint and locate survivors from safer distances. The SMURF can be controlled remotely, keeping operators out of danger while still accomplishing crucial tasks.

“This is a prototype that didn’t exist before,” said Ristmäe. “Instead of sending in people, we send machines—robots—to handle dangerous tasks.”

The SMURF is compact and lightweight, featuring a two-wheeled design for easy maneuverability over obstacles.

“It can dive deep into the wreckage to find victims, with several robots covering an entire debris site,” noted Professor Satoshi Tadokoro, a robotics specialist at Tohoku University and one of the project’s lead scientists.

The team experimented with various designs before finalizing the SMURF prototype.

“We looked into different configurations—such as multiple wheels, flying robots, and jumping robots—but concluded that a two-wheeled design is the most efficient,” added Tadokoro.

Detecting Survivors

The SMURF is equipped with advanced technology in its small “head,” including video and thermal cameras, microphones, speakers for two-way communication, and a powerful chemical sensor known as the SNIFFER.

This sensor detects substances that humans emit, like CO2 and ammonia, and can even differentiate between living and deceased individuals.

In real-life situations, the SNIFFER has shown it can provide reliable data even in challenging conditions, such as smoke or rain.

According to Ristmäe, the information from the SNIFFER is crucial: it helps rescuers prioritize aid for individuals who are still alive.

Drone Support

To enhance the SMURF’s capabilities, the researchers have also integrated drone technology into their system. These specialized drones deliver the robots directly to critical areas that may be difficult or perilous to reach on foot.

“You can deploy multiple robots simultaneously and drop them in different locations,” Ristmäe explained.

Alongside the drones used for delivery, the CURSOR team created aerial tools designed for surveying disaster zones. One drone, known as the “mothership,” serves as a flying communication hub connecting all ground devices to the rescue team’s command center.

Other drones are equipped with ground-penetrating radar to locate victims hidden beneath rubble, while additional drones capture high-definition imagery that can be compiled into 3D maps of the area, assisting teams in strategizing their rescue operations.

This technology not only speeds up search efforts but also reduces the time rescuers spend in hazardous locations, like collapsed buildings.

Field Testing

The integrated system has already undergone extensive real-world testing, including large-scale trials in Japan and Europe.

One significant test occurred in November 2022 in Afidnes, Greece, where all CURSOR technologies were utilized in a simulated disaster scenario.

While still a prototype and not available for commercial use, interest in the kit has surged globally.

“We’ve received hundreds of inquiries from people wanting to purchase it,” Ristmäe said. “We explain that it’s not ready for deployment yet, but the demand is undeniable.”

The CURSOR team aims to secure additional funding to refine the technology and ultimately bring it to the market, potentially changing the face of disaster response.