REMOTE CONTROLLED RESCUE ROBOT

2018 ELE Engineering Design Project (XF03)

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Faculty Lab Coordinator

Xavier Fernando

Topic Category

Digital Signal Processing

Preamble

The first reported use of SAR robots was to explore the wreckage beneath the collapsed twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York after the September 2001 terrorist attacks. Drones and robots have been used to survey damage after disasters such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan in 2011 and the earthquakes in Haiti (2010) and Nepal (2015). Up to now, more than 50 deployments of disaster robots have been documented throughout the world, according to the Texas-based Center for Robot‑Assisted Search & Rescue (CRASAR). Thermal imaging is the key technology behind detecting live persons. However, detecting live people behind the rubbles is a challenge yet to be solved. Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio signals have the ability penetrate rubbles. How can we utilize the two technologies?

Objective

To develop a remote-controlled rescue robot that can alert the presence of a live person (or pet) underneath the rubbles and direct the rescuers to the right place.

Partial Specifications

1. The Robot shall be able to see around itself (with video cameras) and transmit the data to the controller in real time.
2. Move in a 2D plane according to the received control signals in real time, avoiding collision.
3. Using VLF and thermal imaging technologies detect live personnel and inform the control center.

Suggested Approach

Design video signals module and wireless transmission robotics controls are doable tasks. ZigBee, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi can be used for wireless transmission. Built in robotic modules can be purchased.

We have been collaborating with a mining company who has done significant work in through the earth communications using VLF signals. Also see, Ekaterina Korolkova, Danil Kudinov, Wisam Farjow and Xavier Fernando, ‘Technological advancement for a novel Through-the-Earth communication system’ Proc. of the Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, Quebec City, May 2018

Group Responsibilities

The group is responsible for the successful completion of the overall project.

Student A Responsibilities

Student A is responsible for the real time control of the Robot.

Student B Responsibilities

Student B is responsible for the video signal detection and transmission to the control.

Student C Responsibilities

Student C is responsible for the thermal camera and VLF modules that will detect the presence of life behind rubbles.

Course Co-requisites