Robot-human rescue teams: a user requirements analysis

Time-critical operations of equipment in emergencies require efficient human-machine interaction. In order to evaluate and rank the factors affecting search and rescue activities in emergencies, a requirements analysis among this professional community has been performed. The analyses presented here focus on cooperating robot-human teams. They have been performed on the basis of questionnaires and personal interviews with professionals in search and rescue from Germany, Finland and the Czech Republic. This includes professional fire fighters, plant fire brigades (nuclear power plants, airports, chemical factories), governmental disaster relief organizations and the military. The analyses identify the end-user requirements and provide guidelines for the development of rescue systems. On this basis, a system design for human-robot teams has been derived, with particular emphasis on telerobotics interface implemenation.