Hybrid ugv and drone system for mine rescue assistance

John Racette, Simon Lotero, Jeffrey Gordon, Chris Dinelli, Arvin Ebrahimkhanlou, Sihua Shao, Pedram Roghanchi, Mostafa Hassanalian

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop a semi-autonomous multi-agent hybrid vehicle to explore and navigate collapsed underground mines. This work is intended to expedite the search and rescue process in the event of a mining disaster. The vehicle will be tasked with gathering environmental data, such as temperature and air quality, to send back to the mining rescue team. An additional role for the vehicle is locating and directing survivors with intelligent navigation procedures. The hybrid vehicle will consist of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) housing a flying drone in a dust-proof box with an automatic opening hatch. The flying drone will be able to continue to navigate terrain that the ground vehicle may not be able to surpass, gather data, and return to the UGV with the data gathered. Additionally, the UGV will regularly drop wireless communication nodes to form a temporary wireless mesh network between the mine rescue team and the UGV. Backscatter communication will be developed to enable the battery-free communication between the flying drone and the trapped miners. The UGV will be equipped to navigate and collect data for thousands of feet within a featureless and GPS-denied environment. It will utilize LIDAR, depth camera and tracking camera technology in order to obtain a full sensory scan of its underground environment for use in navigation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
EventAIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum - Chicago, United States
Duration: Jun 27 2022Jul 1 2022

Publication series

NameAIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum

Conference

ConferenceAIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChicago
Period6/27/227/1/22

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering

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