Robotic vine tackles disaster rescue challenges with ease

The team from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, developed the SPROUT robot, which resembles a vine and can squeeze through rubble. Chad Council, a member of the SPROUT team, explained that urban search and rescue operations are often harsh and relentless, posing a challenge even for the most advanced technology. This robot is meant to support rescuers in difficult post-construction disaster conditions.

SPROUT, or Soft Pathfinding Robotic Observation Unit, is a robotic unit capable of manoeuvring in tight spaces. With the ability to inflate and deflate, the robot can slip under collapsed structures. Council explained that the basic functioning of the vine-like robot solves many issues that other platforms struggle with. The robot is controlled remotely, allowing for exploration and mapping of the area and finding optimal access routes through debris.

Currently, SPROUT is operated using joysticks and a screen displaying the robot's camera feed. It can extend to a length of up to 3 metres, and the team is working on increasing this distance to 8 metres. Nathaniel Hanson, the research group leader, noted that although collapse events are rare, they have a devastating impact. In the future, this technology could be used not only in rescue operations but also in the maintenance of military systems or critical infrastructure.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory conducted SPROUT tests with rescuers at the Massachusetts Task Force 1 training site in Beverly, Massachusetts. These tests allowed scientists to improve the durability and mobility of the robot and learn how to control it more effectively. The team plans a larger field study this spring. Hanson emphasized that this program has allowed the vine-like robots' technology readiness level to be raised to the point that rescuers can participate in a practical demonstration of the system.