A scientist at the U.S. University of Worcester Polytechnic Institute has received funding to advance the development of 3D-printed rescue robots. The flexible and small robots will be used to assist people in disaster situations.
The university announced that Markus Nemitz has received nearly $600,000 from the National Science Foundation for his project. The goal is to produce inexpensive rescue robots that can be quickly manufactured in large quantities.
The soft and bendable robots are expected to range in size from a mouse to a basketball. They should be able to traverse difficult terrain such as mountains of rubble or flooded regions. Equipped with cameras and microphones, they could provide vital information to rescue workers.
According to Nemitz, the development of small and flexible robots holds great potential. In tests, his development will replicate cave areas, among other things, to demonstrate its suitability. In the long term, 3D printing and robotics could revolutionize disaster rescue operations, the researcher said.
The grant is through the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program. It supports around 500 young scientists in the U.S. each year.
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