Multi-Robot Search and Rescue:
Current Challenges and Future Directions

George J. Pappas
University of Pennsylvannia
S. Roumeliotis
University of Minnesota
S. Singh
Carnegie Mellon University

Speakers or Notable Participants
John Blitch, Blitch Solutions
Joel Burdick, California Institute of Technology
Chris Couper, IBM
Kostas Daniilidis, University of Pennsylvannia
Vijay Kumar, University of Pennsylvania
Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos, University of Minnesota
Stergios Roumeliotis, University of Minnesota
Daniela Rus, Dartmouth University
Thomas Cook, Allegheny Fire Academy
Sam Stover, INTF-1, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Fumihito Arai, Nagoya University
Sue McGrath, Dartmouth University

Abstract

Experience with robots at disaster sites suggests that useful emergency response robots must have several characteristics. From the practical mechanical point of view, they must possess basic mechanical durability, very high mobility in complex terrains, simple manipulation capabilities, and the ability to recover from errors and/or failures (such as toppling). Furthermore, teams of mobile robots must be able to gather large amount of sensory information, which is then processed and presented to remote human operators in the correct geometrical context. In addition, individual robots need to share collected information and communicate it in a condensed form to remotely sited human operators. Optimally, the team should be able to adaptively allocate its resources on the fly as it encounters evolving situations. All of these operations rely heavily upon coordination and planning techniques that take sensing into account.

Objectives

The objectives of our full-day workshop are:

• Provide a forum for state-of-the-art research on the formulation and computational solution of some of the main technical challenges that appear in this new scientific and technological endeavor.
• Bring together some of the leading researchers in the field in order to promote cross fertilization of results, tools, and ideas in order to stimulate further progress in the area.
• Attract new researchers in the field by introducing them to the modern challenges posed by multi-robot emergency response teams.

Website
http://www.cs.umn.edu/~stergios/icra2004mrsr.html

Registration

To attend this workshop, register for workshop T-WF-1 by advance registration deadline.

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The ICRA 2004 program includes thirteen (13) workshops and three (3) tutorials.

All workshops and tutorials will take place on Monday, April 26, and Tuesday, April 27, 2004.

The time schedule, as well as the list of titles and organizers, may be found under respective menu items:
- tutorials
- workshops

The fees are listed under registration. To register, select the appropriate code on the Registration form.

The deadline for workshop/tutorial advance registration is March 26, 2004.