Robot designed to eliminate unknowns of mine rescue

Robotics engineers at Sandia National Laboratories have designed the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot, which finds dangers such as poisonous gases, flooded tunnels, explosive vapours and unstable walls and roofs, and can provide relief to trapped miners.

It is reportedly able to navigate through 18in of water, crawl over boulders and rubble piles, and move in ahead of rescuers to evaluate precarious environments and help plan operations.

‘We have designed this robot to go in ahead of its handlers, to assess the situation and potential hazards, and allow operations to move more quickly,’ said Jon Salton, Sandia engineer and project manager. ‘The robot is guided by remote control and is equipped with gas sensors, a thermal camera to locate survivors and another pan-and-tilt camera mounted several feet up to see the obstacles we’re facing.’

Less than 4ft long and 2ft tall, Gemini-Scout is said to be agile enough to navigate around tight corners and over safety hatches 1ft high. In addition to giving rescuers an idea of what they are headed into, the robotic scout can take food, air packs and medicine to those trapped underground. It is equipped with two-way radios and can be configured to drag survivors to safety.