Robots Saving Lives: A Literature Review About Search and Rescue (SAR) in Harsh Environments

In recent years, the rise in both natural and man-made disasters, along with armed conflicts and terrorist threats, has elevated the demand for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions worldwide. This paper underscores the critical necessity to enhance SAR capacity, safety, and capabilities, with a primary goal of reducing response times through the integration of robots into SAR operations. The examination of research on robotized SAR highlights deficiencies in both software and hardware, particularly focusing on perception systems for robotized SAR platforms.