Canine Assisted Robot Deployment for Urban Search and Rescue

In Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations the search for survivors must occur before rescue operations can proceed. Two methods that can be used to search in rubble are trained search dogs and specialized response robots (sometimes called rescue robots). Rescue robots are used to collect information about trapped people within a disaster like a collapsed building. Information from them can help first responders plan and execute a rescue effort. The main challenge for these robots is the restrictions placed on their mobility by challenging rubble surfaces. While current research in this area attacks this challenge through mechanical design, good solutions remain elusive. This paper presents a new method for dispersing response robots called Canine Assisted Robot Deployment (CARD). CARD's approach utilizes USAR dogs to deliver robots close to a trapped human detected by the dog. This method exploits the canine ability to find survivors using their olfactory sensors and agility. Once a dog carrying a small robot has found a casualty, the robot can be dropped and begin exploring. Initial experiments and results are described in this paper.