Originally published July 26 2005
Robots to the rescue
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Robots are training to be lifesavers through RoboCup Rescue, which maintains the Rescue Robot League for competing in rescue missions in mock disaster sites and the Rescue Simulation League, which competes in rescue and fire-fighting techniques in computer-simulated disasters.
If you need a hand where humans fear to tread, you might call the rescue robot league.
The outfit comprises competitors in RoboCup Rescue, one of the three categories in RoboCup 2005 Osaka, which aims to foster robotic technology for response to disasters such as earthquakes.
Development of rescue robots is advanced in European nations and the United States.
Japan also started to study that field intensely after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995.
The RoboCup Rescue has two leagues-the Rescue Robot League for competing in rescue operations in mock disaster sites and the Rescue Simulation League for competing in rescue and fire-fighting strategies in computer-simulated disasters.
Twenty-six teams from 11 countries are scheduled to compete in the Rescue Robot League.
There are five entries from Japan: the University of Tsukuba, the Nagaoka University of Technology, the Toin University of Yokohama, the University of Electro-Communications and Chukyo University.
At the RoboCup venue, several types of disaster sites are reproduced to require robots to demonstrate their techniques in different degrees of difficulty.
Robots will compete in searches for mannequins buried in rubble and in drawing simple maps depicting damaged areas.
The robots must complete their objectives accurately within a time limit.
To move through debris, many robots are outfitted with tracks, although some have wheels or four legs.
After the competition ends, all sensors and computer programs installed in the robots will be open to participants.
Release of the technology is based on RoboCup's fundamental idea that participants should not only compete but also share technology.
Fumitoshi Matsuno, professor at the department of mechanical engineering and intelligent systems at the University of Electro-Communications, said, "RoboCup gives us an opportunity to test our robots' capability in conditions close to those of a real disaster."
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