I've been watching the 'Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest,' where participants compete in rescue capabilities by controlling homemade humanoid robots. The motions and operation techniques that minimize impact on victims are outstanding.
The ' Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest ', in which participants compete in rescue activity capabilities by operating their own humanoid bipedal robots, was held on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at the Neyagawa Campus of Osaka Electro-Communication University. The contest emphasizes not only 'speed of rescue' but also 'reducing the impact on those in need of rescue'. I was curious about what kind of robots would appear, so I actually visited the venue and watched the event.
Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest | Aim for disaster relief with humanoid robots!
We arrived at the Neyagawa campus of Osaka Electro-Communication University, where the Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest will be held.
A poster at the venue reads 'Rescue Future Type.'
The competition field for competing rescue skills looks like this. A U-shaped stage is equipped with a 'tunnel to go under,' a 'step to climb over,' and a 'bed where the person in need of rescue is waiting.'
The tunnel looks like this. It is up to the player to decide how they go through it.
This is the step that needs to be overcome. How to overcome the step also differs depending on the athlete.
The person in need of rescue is a humanoid drawing doll.
An acceleration sensor is embedded in the back of the drawing doll, allowing it to detect impacts and tilt.
In the contest, not only speed but also the impact and tilt of the person in need of rescue are evaluated. For example, if the head of the person falls downward as shown below, the 'tilt value' will accumulate and points will be deducted.
The impact and tilt values are displayed in real time on monitors in the venue. The highlight of the event is seeing how gently the rescue can be performed without causing any shock.
The video below shows the entire competition. The contestant was Natsuki Miyagi of the Osaka Electro-Communication University Free Workshop HRP, and his robot was called 'Aranea.'
First, right after the start you go through a tunnel. You are required to move in a low position, such as by crawling forward.
To get over a step, you need to use your arms and legs, and Aranea did it with a cartwheel-like movement.
Next, you will need to remove the rubble around the person in need of rescue. When removing rubble, if you hit a bed, the impact value will be added, so fine piloting skills are required.
Once the rubble has been removed, the rescuer will gently lift up the victim. There are many interesting aspects to this demonstration, such as 'adjusting the distance from the victim,' 'controlling the arm movements,' and 'motions to reduce impact.'
The race ends when the person in need of assistance is carried to the finish line. The impact value continues to accumulate even during the process of carrying the person to the finish line, so a smooth method of movement is required.
The 'Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest' is divided into a 'Visual Division' and an 'On-Board Camera Division.' In the On-Board Camera Division, the above operations must be carried out relying solely on the footage from the camera mounted on the robot.
A total of 13 robots participated in the 2024 Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest, and the six robots that performed well advanced to the final mission. The competition content and results of the final stage are summarized in the article below.
A summary of all the robots that advanced to the final stage of the 'Humanoid Rescue Robot Contest', including a robot that makes a 'coke' sound and a robot that punches with all its might - GIGAZINE
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