Publication
Experiences with USAR mobile interfaces: The need for persistent geo-localized information
Benoit Larochelle; Geert-Jan Kruijff; NJJM Smets; J van Diggelen
In: 2013 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) (Hrsg.). IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS-13), November 3-8, Tokyo, Japan, Pages 5333-5338, IEEE/RSJ, 2013.
Abstract
Urban search and rescue (USAR) missions are
unique and unpredictable. Communication and coordination
is difficult, with high-level actors (e.g. mission commander)
lacking local terrain knowledge while low-level actors (e.g. robot
operators, in-field rescuers) lack global situation awareness
(SA). In-field actors have high mobility and a direct view of
the field, but so far they could communicate this SA almost
exclusively through radio. Unfortunately, words are imprecise
and unorganized, and thus not easily analyzable and retrievable.
As part of the NIFTi1 project, we developed mobile applications
to help in-field actors share their SA with the rescue
team. We also performed high-fidelity USAR simulations and
missions at fire fighting training sites and disaster areas. We
discovered a need for persistent geo-localized information and
propose a novel system architecture that integrates pictures
taken from robots and from in-field rescuers into the existing
systems at the command post.