Semicircular duplex manipulator for rescue operation: size and weight reduction

Abstract

To prevent secondary disasters and to emphasise searching ability, the utilisation of robots for rescue operations has attracted considerable attention. However, when operating in completely collapsed wooden houses, conventional rescue mobile robots cannot pass through spaces in the rubble because the size of these spaces is very small. Hence, the development of an endoscope-type rescue robot that is more mobile is necessary. In this study, we redesigned our previous rescue manipulator by downsizing its body while maintaining robustness. As a result, we developed a new small-sized duplex manipulator, and successfully reduced its cross-sectional diameter by 50% and its weight by 75%.