SAVIOUR

PAKISTAN’S FIRST RESCUE ROBOT
SEMI-AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION, OBSERVATION AND ULTIMATE RESCUE  (SAVIOUR)

SAVIOUR is a search and rescue robot to detect survivors is capable of traversing and mapping a complex and unknown terrain. This project has been initiated by students of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) to promote innovation and research in the field of robotics particularly rescue robots. The ultimate goal is to develop a highly efficient commercial Rescue robot which can become an integral part of Pakistan’s emergency response system.

SAVIOUR competed successfully in RoboCup 2009, held in Austria, to become Pakistan’s first robot to participate in the rescue league of this prestigious International competition. RoboCup consists of different leagues ranging from simulation to humanoid robots. RoboCup Rescue League is aimed at developing robots that can be sent to hazardous environments for search and rescue missions.

In an environment where human rescue teams will be endangered, SAVIOUR minimizes the time and effort of rescue teams, for example in earth quake hit zones (collapsed structures, partially blocked passageways and large amounts of debris) ; cave-ins;  toxic gassed areas (smoke, chlorine and ammonia leakage) and military purposes.

SAVIOUR, with its high maneuverability, is capable of avoiding obstacles with the help of ultrasonic sensors while making its ways through the complex terrain. It is able to search for survivors by detecting signs of life through intelligent processing of motion, heat, form, sound and CO2 emission data. Mapping is being accomplished by lasers and camera to determine the position of the robot vis-à-vis its surroundings.

To perform its functions, SAVIOUR will demonstrate capabilities in:

• Mobility
• Localization
• Sensory perception
• Machine Learning
• Computer Vision
• Planning and mapping
• Practical operator interface