Urban search and rescue robots: from tragedy to technology

The tragedy of September 11th 2001 at the World Trade Center is likely to propel search-and-rescue robotics into its next stage, just as the Kobe earthquake and the Oklahoma City bombing were the catalysts for this research domain. Tragedy hasn´t been the only motivator for urban search-and-rescue advancements in the USA and Japan; international competition has motivated both countries, first with RoboCup Soccer and more recently with RoboCup Rescue. We may see inexpensive urban search-and-rescue robots mass-produced within five years if advances in hardware and software keep up.