The FireBug [autonomous search and rescue aerial robot]

The International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC) has challenged universities to develop autonomous teams of robots (with at least one airborne robot) to perform an unmanned search and rescue mission. The competition's past success has seen increased public interest in aerial robotics. The mission is a simulated natural disaster such as an earthquake or nuclear accident. There are small fires, barrels of toxins and simulated survivors littering the 5-acre site. Points are accrued for identifying hazards, extinguishing fires, and if possible, rescuing survivors. For more information about the IARC, see Appendix A, or visit the IARC website listed in section 8.0, Project References.Simon Fraser University's (SFU) Aerial Robotics Group (ARG) has competed in the IARC for the past 2 years. This year the ARG is incorporating a land vehicle into its system. This vehicle is the FireBug.The FireBug's primary design goal is to extinguish fires and identify hazards. It will work in conjunction with the airship to identify and, if possible, reduce or eliminate these hazards. This project will demonstrate the long-term possibilities of machine assisted search and rescue operations, or indeed any application in a hazardous environment.