SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to develop a highly capable disaster-response robotic system called SpinnerBot for use in confined and/or collapsed-structures for survivor search, site-investigation and -assessment. SpinnerBot will: 1) Provide for a small and light footprint and have a user-friendly GUI; 2) Allow for long-term deployment of at least 12 hours or more; 3) Be capable of carrying crucial sensor-modalities (visual, chemical, etc.); 4) Be capable of accessing and climbing up/down convoluted and confined spaces; 5) Be capable of real-time control of 'buried' ranges no less than 100 feet; 6) Be simple and inexpensive to purchase and use. SpinnerBot will consist of an articulated tethered platform capable of climbing and rappelling with the use of a tensionable member and a user-selectable locomotor - very much akin to a spider or mountain climber. The platform will carry on-board vision & chemical sensors, which can access internal locations with the help of an extremely capable articulating frame/suspension with exchangeable running-gears. The system can operate with wheels, legs, or even treads, which are rapidly interchangeable on site. Such a system does not exist today and SpinnerBot can provide a solution that could dramatically impact current robotic vehicle capabilities in terms of search-and-rescue and structure inspection

A tethered rapelling robot system, dubbed SPIDAR, will be built and tested, capable of use in collapsed urban environments for civil-defense and search-and-rescue and reconnaissance applications. The design is based on a modular and payload/marsupial-capable design optimized for use in environments considered for a variety of applications. The project will design, build and test a rugged prototype system to be tested in a variety of settings with the assistance of non-profit, industrial and government entities.

Keywords:
ROBOT, RAPELLING, SEARCH, RECONNAISSANCE, MODULAR, REMOTE, RESCUE, PAYLOAD