Earthquake rescue

24 February 2011, Last updated at 23: 22 GMT from Dave Lee BBC World Service Peter Altrincham hopes (right), the robot can do search and rescue attempts "leaner" as New Zealand tries to come to terms with the devastating earthquake of Christchurch, brave rescuers continue to work their way through the rubble in search of more than 200 people disappeared.

From the ground, experts try to judge where people are more likely to be buried by decomposition through rubble, listening to the sounds and sending dogs to detect life.

Some buildings, however, proved just too dangerous for rescue teams entering.

A team of engineers at the University of Warwick has worked to resolve the problem by developing a robot capable of entering unstable buildings and "watching" around for signs of survival.

Until now, the previous technology has relied on laser-based equipment prohibitively expensive but Warwick team have opted for a much cheaper hardware-Xbox Microsoft Kinect.

The means of the motion detection Mobile Robotics Warwick (WMR) were able to create a robot that can accurately model its surroundings and even identify the places where they can be survived.

"The idea is to protect the lives of the rescuers," explained Peter Crook, mechanical engineer on the project.

Continue reading the main story

really is not designed to bring people who are locked out there, but this would mean that the emergency services know where the '

end quote Peter Crook Warwick Mobile Robotics "what you have is a team of people perhaps two-it doesn't take a lot of labour-and you would be set up outside. From a safe distance, they drive the robot and then use the robot to find victims. "Award-Winning

Last year, the robot was awarded first place in the Robocup Rescue European Championship in Germany, a prestigious competition that aims to take initiatives in this field the ability to get publicity and funding.

WMR is currently courting further sponsorship for their search-particularly when it comes to testing the robot in real life situations.

"They're obviously difficult to predict, and we don't have the money to fly out there," said Mr Crook, reflecting on the disaster in New Zealand.

We raise all our funding and then the cost is a huge problem for us, what you can and cannot produce.

Mr Crook estimated using Kinect, rather than other similar technologies, the team has managed to save over £ 2000 for each robot.

And, as well as being more convenient, the machine is technologically more advanced than before.

"What we had before was a LIDAR-laser range finder-but then just literally giving a view so that you get a flat line of things away from you, how are you.

The robots are currently undergoing testing

"Whereas Kinect gives us a three-dimensional vision so we can actually see it as a picture and how everything is far away."

This makes it the potentially huge aid robot for rescue desperate not to lose time in getting to the survivors.

"It really is not designed to bring people who are locked out there, but this would mean that the emergency services know where they are and would be able to get to them much more effectively than maybe looking through a whole building which can be empty.

"It also produces a 3D map at the same time, so what then you back on your computer is a full map of the Interior of the building. You could simplify your process bailout. "

New approach

However, the project facing an obstacle in this area.

Microsoft in the past were reluctant to support using Kinect on something different from their Xbox consoles.

Continue reading the story main Digital Planet is the weekly program broadcast by the BBC World technology ServiceIt is broadcast on Tuesday 1232GMT to and 1632GMT repeated, 2032GMT and Wednesday to 0032GMT robot WMR was made possible only after an independent programmer unofficial driver product that allowed the Kinect be used on a normal computer.

"We had not tackled with authorization," said Mr. Crook.

"So this should become a commercial product, I think we may have to cross that bridge."

However, while Microsoft has resisted using Kinect early adaptation devices, the company now says he has changed his position.

In the spring, a developer kit for Kinect will be available for personal users, while a commercial kit will follow at a later date.

"It is definitely good news for us," said Mr. Crook, welcoming the new approach.

"Essentially we are using the function for which it is designed but not computer games, but to save lives."