With a €2m budget, ROBAUCO with advice from SOS Deiak has produced two prototype robots - one for indoor use, the other for outdoor service - targeting cooperation in rescue at different emergency scenes.

Tekniker-IK4 leads a robotics research project that has developed intelligent robots capable of performing complex tasks that can help rescue teams in emergency situations like fires, earthquakes or terrorist attacks. Owing to their mobility and high degree of autonomy, those robots turn into ideal partners of the specialists who respond to such contingencies and usually have very little time to rescue survivors.

The fields of action of robots currently relate to automation and industrial production, for pre-known, highly repetitive tasks: handling of components, welding, painting... To a smaller extent, robots participate in activities involving interventions in situations that are dangerous or inaccessible to humans. In those cases, including but not limited to bomb disposal and inspection of pipelines, it is the robot's function to extend people's capacities.

In contrast to the a.m. applications, the ROBAUCO project has developed mobile, autonomous and cooperative robots capable of carrying out the most complex tasks. As a matter of fact, two prototypes have already been produced and tested as aids for different emergency situations. In order to channel the functions of the prototypes appropriately, developers got advice from the Basque Government's Emergency Office, Basque Rescue Service SOS Deiak, and other emergency services.

Both prototypes - one terrestrial for outdoor use, the other for indoor applications - have been designed to meet the needs of the project's two working scenarios: a gas leak in a chemical plant and fire in a car park.

In the first instance, the terrestrial robot approaches from a known position, using the operator's input based on a map of the area as well as GPS information. Surveying the area the terrestrial robot will cross to reach its target is the function of an aerial robot (UAV) that flies over the area, takes pictures and transmits them to the operator. The terrestrial robot operates autonomously, passing through or dodging rough terrains and varied obstacles. On reaching the target place, it starts exploring it to detect the source of the chemical leak.

Fire in a car park
In the second working scenario, the robot would enter the car park and self-explore the area (meaning without remote control), providing information to the central operations base for a first assessment by the emergency services.

The two cases in point for testing the ROBAUCO prototypes result from a broader study of the particular requirements and strategies relative to different emergency situations. According to the conclusions of that study, the first 48 hours are crucial in the job of the emergency services. Indeed, from the second day onwards, mortality increases drastically due to exposure, shortage of water, food or medical care.

Therefore, intelligent robots with their mobility, autonomy and capacity for cooperating are specially useful to emergency parties who work in hostile environments and provide continuous 24-hour service every day of the year in order to respond to critical situations of all kinds: civil defence, aquatic or mountain rescue, hazardous substance accidents, forest and urban fires, earthquakes, floods, epidemics, terrorism, warlike situations, etc.

Starting from this analysis, the research centres who participate in ROBAUCO have worked on generating necessary technologies to develop mobile robots able to perform the complex tasks such situations demand, while collaborating with human teams as naturally as is possible. In that respect, the robot capability is expected to extend beyond the mere fulfilment of electronic orders and to permit interaction with individuals through simple means, including voice and gestures.

Four technology centres and four universities
Tekniker-IK4 is the project leader and collaborates with another three participant technology centres: Fatronik also of Basque origin, ITI (Valencian Information Technology Institute) and the Valladolid-based Centre for Robotic Automation, Information and Manufacturing Technologies (CARTIF). The project further receives contribution by robotics researchers from the Basque Country University (UPV/EHU), the Carlos III University in Madrid, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and the University of Seville.

Following 30 months of hard work, the project reaches completion in the first quarter of 2010. Its budget amounted to two million Euros, of which €650,000 were allocated to Tekniker-IK4. Spain's Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade funded part of the project, by contributing one million Euros.

Technological Specialisation
With over 25 years experience in researching applied technology and transferring the results to business, TEKNIKER-IK4 is highly specialised in four main areas (Precision Engineering and Mechatronics, Surface Engineering, Production Engineering and Automation, and Manufacturing Technologies), something that allows it to place its cutting-edge technology at the service of those requiring it. In 2009, the Eibar-based technological centre carried out developments worth about 21 million Euros.

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