Posted : March 2011
Author : the admin
Though the earthquake that struck Japan’s
eastern coast earlier today has left the country with massive destruction and
hundreds of deaths, modern tech (and Japan’s impressive level of
readiness) are helping the country track survivors and dampen the damage as
much as possible. In the future, our ability to cope with natural disasters
will only increase.
Though it may look like a coffin-tank, this robotic crawler
is actually just the opposite–a rescue machine that can transport one person to
safety. Created for the police department of Yokohama, Japan,
this crawler is a rescue-bot that’s capable of carrying a person of up to 250 pounds
to safety inside its comforting hull. Its search functions are limited to the
standard infrared cameras, but the robot is primarily designed as a
remote-controlled stretcher with a much greater degree of safety. It even has
sensors inside to monitor a patient’s blood flow and other vital signs on the
trip.
The RoboCue
This robot may look like it’s trying to eat a mannequin’s
face (stupid robot!), but it’s actually practicing for a controlled rescue
operation. The RoboCue, a rescue ‘bot from the Tokyo Fire Department, is
designed to locate and safely retrieve victims from disaster sites-specifically
bomb sites, but it could be useful for natural disasters as well. It uses
ultrasonic sensors and infrared cameras to locate trapped humans, and gently loads
the injured person onto a cart to be transported to safety. It even has an
onboard oxygen canister.
The 26-Foot-Long Snakebot
Satoshi Tadokoro, one of Japan’s leading rescue-bot
researchers, is responsible for this snakebot, aimed more at the “search” part
of search and rescue. The 26-foot-long, inch-thin snake actually propels itself
with motor-powered nylon bristles. It may not move fast-around two inches per
second-but it’s capable of turning sharp corners, climbing 20-degree inclines,
and squeezing through tiny gaps, and with its camera “eyes,” it’s capable of
sending back images that let rescuers know the situation inside a disaster
zone. It’s been successfully tested in both control and real-life situations,
helping a rescue team with a parking lot collapse in Florida.
The Roller-Skating Rescuer
Professor Shigeo Hirose at the Tokyo Institute of Technology
has three different rescue ‘bots, each designed for a slightly different
purpose, demonstrated in this BBC video. The first is a snake-like robot that’s
mostly notable for the presence of wheels on all sides-it can continue moving
no matter which side is up. The second is a slightly hardier version of the
snake-bot-still snake-like, but with treads instead of wheels and a tougher
exterior, resistant to dust and water and able to handle more demanding
conditions. But the one that’s really interesting is the third, which examines
organic biology to figure out which mode of locomotion is best. When moving
over very uneven terrain, legs tend to work best-you can position them to land
on flatter or sturdier steps, compared to, say, treads. But on flat ground,
some sort of wheel is preferable-faster, requiring much less energy, and more
stable. So Hirose devised an ingenious convertible leg that can turn into a
wheel when necessary, and then propel itself with a movement inspired by
rollerskating.
The Breath-Sensor
The Quince is a small but uniquely endowed robot from the
Chiba Institute of Technology. About the size “of a children’s play car,” as
PhysOrg notes, the Quince is equipped with four sets of wheels, outfitted with
treads, and six electric motors. It also has a motorized arm capable of opening
doorknobs and delivering food or other supplies. But where it gets really
interesting is in its sensors. The Quince has an infrared sensor as well as a
carbon-dioxide sensor, which it uses to detect human breath and body warmth.
~Blog Admin~
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