Automated exploration techniques for rescue applications (EXPRES)

Funded by: Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (MCYT) , Direccion General de Investigacion

Period from: 01/01/2004 to: 31/12/2006

Main researcher: Luis Montano Gella

Researchers number: 17

Project description: The EXPRESS project has been funded by the Plan Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo for the period 2004-2007. A multidisciplinar team is involved in the project, in which it is worth noting the collaboration between the GTE and the Robotics Group of the University of Zaragoza. The research is developed in the within the Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A). The main aim of the Express is the research in exploration strategies for several rescue applications. Two objetives are proposed for this project: (1) Robots intervention in confined or man dangerous areas, such as road tunnels after and accident, or in large underground spaces (parkings) and outside; (2) ARVA (Appareil de Recherche de Victimes d’Avalanches)system for rescue teams in order to have a fast and accurate location of multiple victims of snow avalanches. The GTE takes part in the first objetive, in the information transmission and wireless communication between the team member robots (real time Ad-Hoc networks) and between these ones with the outer command post (long range link with transmission through a dissipative medium), in an environment where the conventional systems do not work at all. The GTE takes part in every aspects of the second objetive.

Related publications:

• D. Tardioli y J.L. Villarroel :"Comunicaciones con requisitos de tiempo real sobre 802.11: RT-WMP", Actas de las IX Jornadas de Tiempo Real, Valladolid, 2006
• C. Calvo , J.A. Cuchí y J.L. Villarroel :"Valores de conductividad eléctrica de nieve y suelo a lo largo de un transecto longitudinal en el Pirineo", Lucas Mallada, Vol.12, pp.101-112, Feb 2006
• N. Ayuso , C. Calvo , J.A. Cuchí y J.L. Villarroel :"Sobre la forma del campo electromagnético en el conjunto suelo-manto nival-aire", Actas de la II Jornada Técnica de Neu i Allaus, Barcelona, España, pp.121-124, 2006
• N. Ayuso , J.A. Cuchí , F. Lera y J.L. Villarroel :"Through-the-Earth Magnetic Field Propagation: Modelling and Experimental Validation", IEEE AP-S International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, 2006
• D. Salós , F. Lera y J.L. Villarroel :"Digital Signal Processing in Triple Antenna ARVAs", Proceedings of the 2007 IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing and Communication (ICSPC07), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2007
• N. Ayuso , J.A. Cuchí , F. Lera y J.L. Villarroel :"Avalanche Beacon Magnetic Field Calculations for Rescue Techniques Improvement", Proc. of 27th International Geoscience And Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Barcelona, Spain, 2007
• D. Tardioli y J.L. Villarroel :"Real Time Communications over 802.11: RT-WMP", Proceedings of MASS 2007, Pisa, Italy, 2007

Project pictures: