Feb 3 2011
A group of researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have built helicopter-like robots that can move indoors. These automated robots can be deployed in investigation, search and rescue operations.
Mr. Phang Swee King, a PhD student in the team from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of NUS, has stated that the robots are designed as compact indoor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are not available in the present market. He has mentioned that they developed another model of small indoor UAVs termed as ‘FeiLion’ with a built-in laser scanner. The scanner enables the robot to automatically move indoors without colliding with obstacles and it can also generate a three dimensional map of a building’s interior.
The three-dimensional map of the building can help security personnel to precisely rebuild the layouts of the building’s risky areas and can also determine the location of the survivors in the building. The project comes under the wider research initiative in UAVs, which is co-sponsored by several organizations like the Defense Science & Technology Agency.
The weight of FeiLion UAV is around 800 grams. Its battery can last for 10 to 15 minutes. The robot can transmit real time video and map data to operators located at a safe remote place.
The small indoor UAVs project started more than a year before. The researchers are looking forward to include a heat sensor, enabling the robot to locate survivors even in distorted buildings. Another UAV could be used to carry medical aids to the surviving people.
Mr. Phang mentioned that all the compact UAVs can be developed in another two years, followed by commercialization of these robots. Military and security robot markets in Singapore are emerging rapidly. Teo Chee Hean, Defence Minister, has stated that the Ministry of Defense has allotted 4% of the defense budget for R&D initiatives.
Source: http://www.nus.edu.sg