Snake Robots Deployed in Venezuela Earthquake Search and Rescue Operations

Robots Aid Venezuela Earthquake Response

Following two earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24, snake-like robots were deployed to search for trapped survivors within the rubble of collapsed structures. These robots provided a technological aid to international search and rescue teams, which also utilized trained dogs, seismic and acoustic devices, and thermal imaging cameras.

Navigating Confined Spaces

The primary advantage of the snake robots is their ability to access tightly packed volumes that are otherwise unreachable by human rescuers or heavy machinery. This capability allowed rescue workers to extend their visual search into dangerous areas safely, effectively performing a "minimally invasive surgery on a structure" according to Howie Choset, head of the Biorobotics Lab at Carnegie Mellon University.

Robot Design and Operation

Each snake robot is four feet long and features a modular design, allowing individual body segments to be replaced or upgraded. A human operator controls the robot using a video game controller and a tethered laptop. Software algorithms enable the robot to autonomously coordinate its body segments for movement once a destination is set.

Prior Deployments and Development

Carnegie Mellon University's Biorobotics Lab has spent nearly two decades developing these snake robots for various applications, including archaeological exploration, underwater tasks, and minimally invasive surgery. Their first deployment in a search and rescue scenario occurred after the September 19, 2017, earthquake in Mexico City, where they assisted in searching a collapsed apartment building.