Rescue robots are expected to become useful work partners for urban search and rescue (USAR) missions. Human rescuers who carry out these missions, frequently enter dangerous zones to search for survivors. However, due to the unstableness of the collapsed buildings or objects, rescuers' lives may also be threatened. For this reason, in order to reduce life-threatening risks, rescue robots can be deployed to carry out the job instead. Rescuers can now operate the robots at a safe distance while the missions are carried out. After the robots have gathered enough information in regard to the location of the victims and data about their physical conditions, rescuers can then enter the disaster site with enough knowledge to avoid harm and to rescue victims in the shortest time possible. This paper presents a wheel-type rescue robot we have developed for information collection purpose at disaster arenas that the robot was specifically designed for.
Abstract Rescue robots have proved to be an extremely useful work partner for urban search and rescue (USAR) missions. Human rescuers who carry out these missions frequently enter dangerous zones to search for survivors; however, due to the unstable nature of collapsed buildings or objects, their lives may also be threatened. For this reason, in order to reduce life-threatening risks, rescue robots are deployed to carry out the job instead. Rescuers can now operate the robots at a safe place while the missions are carried out. When the robots have gathered enough information about the location of the victims and data about their physical conditions, rescuers can then enter the disaster site with enough knowledge to avoid harm and rescue the victims in the shortest time possible. In this paper, we introduce examples of 'effective multiple robot cooperative activities' and 'a study of the number of robots and operators in a multi-robot team' from our experiences gained from participating in RoboCup Rescue competitions. Keywords: RESCUEROBOTSCOOPERATIVE ACTIVITIESMULTI-ROBOT TEAM
Purpose There are some limited reports based on questionnaire data that suggest that outdoor activity decreases the risk of myopia in children and may offset the myopia risk associated with prolonged nearwork. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between nearwork, indoor illumination, daily sunlight, and UV exposure in emmetropic and myopic university students—given that university students perform significant amounts of nearwork and, as a group, have a high prevalence of myopia. Methods Participants were 35 students, aged 17 to 25 years, who were classified as being emmetropic (n = 13) or having stable (n = 12) or progressing myopia (n = 10). During waking hours on three separate days, participants wore a light sensor data logger (HOBO) and a polysulfone UV dosimeter; these devices measured daily illuminance and accumulative UV exposure, respectively. Participants also completed a daily activity log. Results No significant between-group differences were observed for average daily illuminance (p = 0.732), number of hours per day spent in sunlight (p = 0.266), outdoor shade (p = 0.726), bright indoor/dim outdoor light (p = 0.574), or dim room illumination (p = 0.484). Daily UV exposure was significantly different across the groups (p = 0.003), with stable myopes experiencing the greatest UV exposure (vs emmetropes, p = 0.002; versus progressing myopes, p = 0.004). Conclusions The current literature suggests that there is a link between myopia protection and spending time outdoors in children. Our data provide some evidence of this relationship in young adults and highlight the need for larger studies to further investigate this relationship longitudinally.
In order to improve our life further, it is our inspiration to develop efficient robotic systems that can assist our usual need. The system that we are developing not only bring forward efficiency and credibility for daily usage or research platform, but when natural catastrophes like earthquake happens to strike, our robotic system is also capable of entering post-disaster sites and collect information about victim states that will be transmitted to the human rescuers, so that a more accurate and efficient rescue mission can be carried out. This paper presents the up-to-date information about our robotic system development of two different types of robots, the snake-type and the wheel-type.
Wheeled robots have high-speed efficiency over flat floors that no other mobile robots could achieve. However, when it encounters complex environment that requires conquering of high obstacles, tracked/legged robots are proven to be more efficient. The purpose of this research aims at developing a simple structure wheeled robot, and with integration of efficient control algorithm to conquer complex environments where most wheeled robots could not achieve. In order to possess high mobility even in complex environments, but also remain fast traveling speed on flat-floors, a variable-structure wheeled robot is proposed. The current robot composes of three connected units : Main Body Unit and Left/Right WheelArm Units. With these units, the robot could transform its structure to achieve five locomotion modes.
Common wheeled robots face many difficulties when traveling in complex environments, especially its incapability to climb over obstacles higher than its wheel radius. Many alterations were made to these robots to allow them to travel in rough terrains or conquer high obstacles, nevertheless, most designs are complex in nature and lost several original wheeled robot advantages by gaining others. In this paper, we propose a novel wheeled type robot with variable structure functionality. It is designed with simple structure consisting of three main robot parts, the main body, the left and right wheel-arm units. The robot could achieve five locomotion modes that allows the robot to travel in various environments and climb over high obstacles. Moreover, the fast-speed advantage in flat floor condition that common wheeled robot originally hold is still remained. The confirmation of the effectiveness of the robot's maneuverability is shown by several experimental results
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