SPROUT Robot Set to Transform Search and Rescue Operations in Rubble

Flexible Robot SPROUT to Map Routes Under Debris

Rescuing people trapped under debris after major disasters such as earthquakes, explosions, or collapses requires extremely challenging operations in terms of both time and physical risk. To support rescue teams under these difficult conditions, a new robotic system has been developed through a collaboration between MIT Lincoln Laboratory and University of Notre Dame researchers.

"Vine Robot" Technology

The system, named the Soft Pathfinding Robotic Observation Unit (SPROUT), uses a soft robotic technology described as a "vine robot." Composed of an inflatable tube made of airtight fabric, the robot advances by growing outward from a fixed base. Controlled by internal pressure, the system can navigate around obstacles and pass through narrow gaps that traditional robots cannot enter.

Advanced Mapping and Exploration Capabilities

A camera and various sensors located at the tip of SPROUT allow the robot to image and map its environment in real-time as it advances. Operators can steer the robot using joystick control while monitoring the obtained images on a screen. It is stated that the system can currently extend up to 3 meters, and work is ongoing to increase this distance to 7.5 meters in the near future.

Solution to the Limitations of Current Technologies

SPROUT team member Chad Council states that urban search and rescue environments can be harsh and unforgiving, and even the most durable technologies struggle to operate under these conditions. It is emphasized that traditional search and rescue cameras can only advance in straight lines, requiring new access holes to be drilled for deeper points. It is noted that other robotic systems have difficulty moving in narrow and unstable structures, and repair costs are high in case of damage.

Engineering Challenges and Solutions

The robot's flexible structure has created significant engineering challenges in its control mechanisms. SPROUT's ability to bend from many points makes determining and controlling its shape complex. To overcome this challenge, the team has optimized the internal pressure distribution and developed a control system that allows the robot to move simply by pushing the joystick forward. Furthermore, the tube material has been specially designed to reduce friction as the robot grows.

Data Collection and Simulation Studies

SPROUT team leader Nathaniel Hanson notes that collapse events are rare but their effects are devastating. Hanson states that validating robotic systems typically requires ground truth measurements, but such data is not available for collapsed structures. Therefore, the team has developed a virtual environment capable of creating realistic simulations of collapsed structures and is working on algorithms that map voids using data collected by the robot.

Field Tests and Future Plans

SPROUT has been tested with first responders at the Massachusetts Task Force 1 training site in Beverly, Massachusetts. The tests have provided important data for improving the robot's durability and portability. The team has also gained valuable insights into how the robot can be grown and steered more efficiently. It is reported that a larger-scale field study is planned for the spring.

Academic and Industrial Collaboration

The SPROUT project has been developed with the expertise of Margaret Coad, a professor at the University of Notre Dame and considered one of the pioneering researchers in vine robots. Lincoln Laboratory's engineering experience, its partnership with urban search and rescue teams, and its ability to transfer core technologies to industry have provided the project with a strong research foundation.