LittleBot

Robots to assist in USAR (urban search and rescue) situations have been employed since 2001. Such robots are designed to provide video and sensor feedback to evaluate hazardous environments before human taskforces are sent in. This minimises the risks human personnel are exposed to, while increasing the effectiveness of USAR operations. However, the typically high cost of such robots and the reliance on trained operators puts them out of reach of most USAR teams. In New Zealand, there are no nationally available robots suitable for USAR purposes. This thesis explores the development of new affordable devices that can be deployed for USAR operations, known as LittleBots. Three LittleBot variants are developed. Differing primarily in their locomotive capability, two mobile variants provide tether-less video reconnaissance and selectable gas level readings. The third, stationary variant, may be reconfigured with up to four selectable sensors, and is targeted at providing ongoing environmental monitoring at a disaster site. With all variants costing less than USD $155 in components, LittleBots are sufficiently low cost to be considered disposable, greatly increasing the likelihood they will be employed en masse. The stationary Sentry variant demonstrates a minimum runtime of over 60 hours, while the mobile variants provision up to 6 hours of mobile video reconnaissance. For independent deployment of LittleBots, a compatible Controller device is developed. Through user testing, the Controller device demonstrates easy and intuitive use, with no training required.