Development of pneumatically controlled expandable arm for search in the environment with tight access

Abstract

There is a strong demand for efficient lifesaving techniques and devices in preparation for large-scale earthquakes. We focus on searching survivors and develop the rescue robot "Pneumatic-Drive Expandable Arm." That is an elastic arm type robot driven by pneumatic pressure and has a camera on the head. That can travel stably in the rubble-strewn environment where electric power or wireless communication is not available. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.