Rescue Robot Avatar Support Using Airflow Path Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic events cause structural collapse, making it difficult to locate and provide timely support to trapped individuals, and existing robots may exacerbate damage or fail to offer emotional support effectively.

Innovation Solution

Deploy robots equipped with sensors and avatars that detect survivors, establish communication pathways, and provide emotional support by generating avatars to encourage trapped individuals, while maintaining battery life and assisting emergency responders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If robots are deployed to detect survivors in collapsed structures, then survivor detection capability is improved, but the robot may exacerbate damage to the structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvivor detection capabilityVSAvoidstructural damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical robot navigation with acoustic field-based detection. The robot uses acoustic sensors to detect survivors through sound emissions rather than physical exploration, and uses acoustic imaging to map the collapsed structure. This substitution of mechanical interaction with acoustic field interaction allows survivor detection while minimizing structural damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If emergency responders are sent to reach trapped people, then support can be provided, but time is lost before responders arrive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport provisionVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robot provides self-service by autonomously navigating the collapsed structure, detecting survivors, establishing communication pathways, and providing emotional support through avatar generation without requiring constant human intervention. This autonomous operation eliminates the time delay associated with human responders traveling to and setting up operations at the scene.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The robot performs preliminary actions by immediately deploying to the collapsed structure and beginning survivor detection and communication establishment upon arrival. It proactively creates communication pathways and provides emotional support before formal rescue operations can begin, preparing the ground for subsequent responder actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If locals attempt to help trapped people, then immediate assistance is available, but improper procedures may cause additional damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmediate assistanceVSAvoidadditional damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The robot serves as an intermediary between locals and trapped survivors. It provides locals with real-time information about safe approaches and proper procedures through its sensors and communication system, mediating their well-intentioned but potentially harmful actions to ensure they do not cause additional damage while still providing immediate assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of energy

If trapped individuals receive no communication, then resources are conserved, but survivors may feel helpless and lose hope

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource consumptionVSAvoidsurvivor morale

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The robot creates a virtual copy or avatar of a human rescuer that communicates with trapped survivors through video or audio transmission. This digital representation provides emotional support and reassurance without requiring physical presence, conserving the robot's energy resources while maintaining survivor morale through continuous communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Efficiently locates and supports trapped survivors by providing emotional encouragement and establishing power and communication pathways, enhancing rescue efforts and survivor morale.

Implementation Method 1

A robot detects a survivor in debris of a collapsed structure using a set of sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic emission detection: Sound

Implementation Method 2

The robot measures fresh air flow drawn from different directions around the survivor to detect a pathway through the debris to an environment outside the collapsed structure using a fresh air detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow measurement: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12554269B2Providing avatar support after seismic event

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Providing avatar support for trapped seismic event survivors is provided. A survivor is detected in debris of a collapsed structure using a set of sensors. An avatar communicates with the survivor. Fresh air flow drawn from different directions is measured to detect a pathway through the debris to an environment outside the collapsed structure. The pathway is detected through the debris to the environment outside the collapsed structure based on measuring the fresh air flow drawn from the different directions.