Search and Rescue Robots and Their Use
Natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, etc. and other disasters like terrorist attacks create huge chaos and become the cause of a lot of mortalities. Many people get stuck in those disasters, and to search for them, search and rescue robots are used.
Types of Search and Rescue Robots
Aerial: This rescue robot is specially designed to fly and locate as well as capture imagery of humans stuck in ships and offshores, fire accidents, etc.
Marine Rescue Robots: According to the WHO, more than 370,000 people drown every year. This increases the importance of marine rescue robots. These robots automatically detect drowning people and throw lifesaving equipment at them. For this, some robots need manual operation, while some don’t.
Snake Robots: A snake robot is a biomorphic hyper-redundant robot that resembles a snake. Snake robots come in all shapes and sizes. The small cross-section to length ratio allows snake robots to move through confined spaces. These robots can also climb stairs or tree trunks.
Advantages of Rescue Robots
Hurricanes, mudslides, earthquakes, and terror attacks often leave widespread injuries and mortalities. Rescue groups find it hard and exhausting to succeed in searching for stuck people or dead bodies. Robots provide life-saving assistance to those who are trapped.
They're sufficiently small to enter confined areas and can fly over destroyed areas that are cut off from road transport and are out of rescuers' reach.
Disadvantages of Rescue Robots
Rescue robots cost a lot because they need training, programming, costly equipment to manufacture, etc. They need constant maintenance or they fail to run when needed. Moreover, they lack the potential to work efficiently in emergencies. For instance, on muddy or uneven surfaces, it is hard for robots to walk. The rescue mechanism mind doesn't perform just like the human brain; they're ineffectual to sense danger easily.
Final Thoughts
A rescue robot is a machine designed to help in the search and rescue of humans. They will assist rescue efforts by looking out, mapping, removing scrap, delivering essentials, providing medical treatment, or evacuating casualties.
According to a comprehensive analysis report by OMR researchers, the search and rescue robot market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.1% during the forecasted period of 2022–2028. Moreover, companies such as Elbit Systems Ltd., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., and Thales S.A. are contributing to the market's growth by creating rescue robots.