Robots for Search and Rescue Purposes in Urban and Underwater Environments - a survey and comparison

Modern technology has provided robots that can be used for Search and rescue purposes where rescuers have difficulty to locate victims. This is due to problems such as visibility and different environmental conditions. The autonomous mobile ability of robot vehicles makes them ideal platforms for search and rescue purposes. Improvements in communication, navigation and sensory systems provide for efficient mobile robotic platforms. The paper describes two platforms that use similar technologies, but have different applications and operate in different environments. Semi-autonomous and autonomous robots for search and rescue operations also use similar technology to achieve different goals. The way this technology is used can be similar due to the harsh environment that the robots will be entering. Comparisons of the two robots are discussed as to the different modules and material that will be needed for each robot.