Title: Communication improvements and gas danger analysis used for the CAESAR robot

Authors: Riaan Stopforth, Glen Bright, Ronald Harley

Addresses: Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G) – Search and Rescue Division, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa. ' Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), School of Mechanical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa. ' University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0250, USA

Abstract: Urban search and rescue robots are required for the searching of victims in disaster scenarios. Some of the problems experienced before were involved reliable communication with the robot and unsafe environmental conditions, which are harmful to the rescuers. The improvements conducted as used for the contractible arms elevating search and rescue robot are explained and discussed. These involve frequency selection, protocols, antenna design and models for gas danger decisions.

Keywords: USAR; urban search and rescue robots; CAESAR; communication improvements; gas detection; disaster response; emergency response; unsafe conditions; rescuer safety; frequency selection; protocols; antenna design; modelling; gas danger decision making; robot arms; robot communications.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISTA.2011.038263

International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications, 2011 Vol.10 No.1, pp.46 - 64

Received: 09 Jun 2010
Accepted: 16 Sep 2010
Published online: 25 Jan 2011 *

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