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Response Robot Evaluation Exercise (#5)
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Event
Introduction (hotel, maps, safety)
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(click
on image
to download poster in pdf)
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Event Introduction
The fifth in a series of response robot evaluation exercises for DHS/FEMA US&R teams will be hosted at the TX-TF1 training facility known as Disaster City located at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. All applicable robots are invited to take part in this exercise, which will capture robot performance data within emerging standard robot test methods and operationally relevant practice scenarios. Two highlighted practice scenarios will feature ground robots working in confined spaces and down-range reconnaissance of a hazardous materials train wreck from an operational stand-off greater than 150m/500ft. Other practice scenarios will also be available.
These response robot evaluation exercises for US&R teams introduce emerging robotic capabilities to emergency responders within their own training facilities, while educating robot developers regarding the necessary performance requirements and operational constraints to be effective. Emerging standard test methods and usage guides for US&R robot performance are under development within the ASTM International Committee on Homeland Security, Operational Equipment (E54.08.01). These events help refine the proposed standard test methods and fixtures/props that developers can use to practice critical capabilities and measure performance in ways that are relevant to emergency responders. These events are conducted in US&R training scenarios to help correlate the proposed standard test methods with envisioned deployment tasks and to lay the foundation for usage guides identifying a robot's applicability to particular response scenarios.
Disaster City is a 52-acre training facility designed to deliver the full array of skills and techniques needed by urban search and rescue professionals. As part of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) at Texas A&M University and a training site for TX-TF1, the facility features full-size collapsible structures that replicate community infrastructure, including a strip mall, office building, industrial complex, assembly hall/theater, single family dwelling, train derailment and three rubble piles.
ROBOT
PARTICIPANTS
Robots that participate in this exercise should be generally capable
and reliable to perform all applicable test methods repeatedly before
deploying into the operational scenarios with responders. Assistive
robotic capabilities to improve remote operator performance or survivability
of the robot are strongly encouraged. Capabilities involving color cameras,
2-way audio, thermal imagers, hazmat sensors, 2D and 3D mapping, GPS/GIS
integration, and actively controlled tethers are particularly encouraged.
Mobile manipulators with coordinated controlled arms and automatic tool-change
capabilities are strongly encouraged to interact with the environment,
deliver sustenance, embed sensors, and retrieve samples. Downrange delivery
of heavy payload trailers for lumber or responder supplies is strongly
encouraged along with GPS guided return to the base of operations. Retrieval
of non-ambulatory victims in a litter to the base of operations. General
descriptions of the robots sought are as follows:
• Ground based portable robots that can circumnavigate large unknown situations (i.e. around the train derailments).
• Highly agile, man-packable robots that can augment responder searches through compromised and collapsed building environments.
• Confined space accessible robots and snake robots for searching sub-human size voids or that can be thrown into or over inaccessible areas.
• Aquatic vehicles with sonars and/or other sensors to search and identify underwater environments (demonstrated in still water on-site, but working in strong currents is essential).
• Quad-rotor aerial vehicles (under 2kg/4.4lbs) deploying sensors to perform horizontal and vertical station keeping in front of windows.
These events are intense workshops for developers, responders, and test method administrators alike. They are not open for spectators, although the press is usually invited for the final day. Generally, you need to have a remotely operated robotic system or demonstrable critical technology in the mix to participate.
SCHEDULE
This event will be held on Monday through Friday, including two days
of robot practice within the emerging NIST/ASTM standard test methods
for developers, two days of robots deploying in operational scenarios
with responders, and a final half-day standards committee meeting to
capture feedback.
Day
1 and Day 2 (Nov. 17-18)
On site are robot developers and NIST administrators only. All participating
robots will be run through all applicable test methods, providing practice
sessions prior to arrival of the emergency responders. “Expert”
operators, chosen by the robot developers to capture baseline performance
data and provide developer feedback regarding the test apparatuses and
test methods, should operate the robots. The robot performance data
will not be published. Rather the robot developers will be exposed to
the entire suite of responder-validated test methods and provided an
opportunity to help refine the test methods prior to standardization
(this event will be the final opportunity for this set of tests).
Day
3 (Nov. 19)
On site are emergency responders representing FEMA Task Force Teams
from across the country, robot developers, and NIST administrators.
The assembled responders will rotate in small groups through all test
methods to train on robots prior to deploying them into the US&R
training props on site. They will become familiar with robotic capabilities
using the best performing robots in any given test method. While being
exposed to the latest emerging technologies, the responders will provide
feedback to developers regarding necessary capabilities, operator interfaces,
and realistic usage scenarios.
Day
4 (Nov. 20)
The emergency responders will focus on the most applicable robots to
perform targeted tasks in the operational practice scenarios around
the site, which will include embedded test methods practiced in the
previous days. Robot developers will accompany the responders on scenario
deployments as observers, advisors, and as operators in particularly
difficult deployments to show the potential of robot capabilities. All
robot developers on-site, even if your robot is not selected by responders
for deployment, may watch the incident response scenarios to observe
the robot deployments and absorb the lessons.
Day
5 (Nov. 21 AM only)
An after action briefing and ASTM standards committee meeting will be
held for all participants to provide feedback on the proposed standard
test methods. We also want to assess the operational impact and potential
improvements necessary for robots to become useful tools for US&R
responders. DHS and FEMA managers interested in applying robots to US&R
operations will be invited to observe as well.
The hosts at TEEX will provide all the necessary logistical support such as tents, tables, power, water, and other facilities for all emergency responders and robot teams. NIST will provide proposed standard test fixtures/props, forms, etc. A local hotel room block will be reserved and transportation from the hotel to the site will be provided to facilitate logistics. Lunches will be served at the site each day.
These practice incident response exercises are as close as we have to the real thing, and provide an important opportunity to introduce the potential benefits of robots and advanced sensors into US&R responses. So consider this an open invitation to present your applicable robot or sensor to those that can benefit most. Let them practice in a relevant training environment as you refine your assumptions about their needs and constraints.
HOTELS
Courtyard
Marriott
3939 highway
6 South
College Station, TX 77845
979-695-8111
$85
Ask for Amber, Sunni, Britt or Jennifer
Accept K9's: YES
Group name: TEEX or USAR NIST
Towne
Place Suites
300 University Drive East
College Station, TX 77840
979-260-8500
$85 & $111
Ask for Michelle
Accept K9's: YES
Quality
Suites
3610 Highway 6 South
College Station, TX 77840
979-695-9400
$85.00
Ask for Debbie
Accept K9's: YES
SHIPPING ADDRESS FOR ROBOTS OR OTHER STUFF
Disaster
City - NIST Responder/Robot Exercise
Contact: Bob Mckee or Billy Parker
101 Gateway, Suite B
College Station, TX 77845
Phone: 979-458-0857
MAPS of the AREA
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- Bryan-College Station Area (downloadable jpg)
- Disaster City and Brayton Fire Site Map (downloadable jpg)
- Disaster City Overview (downloadable jpg)
- Disaster City Graphic (downloadable pdf)
- Driving
Directions DHS/NIST/TEEX Response Robot Evaluation Exercise at Disaster
City (downloadable
jpg)
DAILY
TRANSPORTATION
Buses will be available to bring you from the hotel to disaster city
(10 minute ride) each morning and return each evening. Please let us
know if your robots have particularly large transportation needs. If
you have your own transportation, you can drive there and meet at the
check-in location. Please be there in time for the mandatory safety
briefing.
LUNCHES
Neither NIST nor TEEX can provide food. We will provide a boxed lunch
and other refreshments on the site each day at the cost of $10 per person
per day (please bring your money to the safety briefing each morning).
SAFETY
On Site Safety Comes First
Be cautious, use common sense, and watch out for others!
Safety of all personnel participating in this event is our first concern. The fact that we have robotics personnel on site, generally unaccustomed to working within hazardous scenarios, is particularly problematic. First, all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times while on site (see associated page on PPE) -- which means wear all of it when you are working in/near a scenario. People in street clothes or without helmets, gloves, etc., are limited to paved roads only. Compliance with these personal protective equipment rules are mandatory.
- The rubble piles present the most risk to novices. If you are operating a robot on a rubble pile or other difficult scenario and it needs to be extracted, please ask your associated emergency responder to retrieve it (hopefully, he/she was the one driving when it got stuck anyway!).
- Always maintain awareness of others working within your scenario and communicate your intentions *before* doing whatever you have in mind.
- Understand that robots can do unpredictable things; the bigger/heavier the robot the more space you should allow it. And don’t stick your fingers into places it might not like. Always familiarize yourself with the emergency stop procedures first… and last…. before interacting with or operating robots. Some implementations are more predictable than others, and it has nothing to do with shininess!
- If you see anything you consider unsafe in our environment, please inform the incident commander or any emergency responder on site, and let’s discuss it at the daily after action briefing (or the next morning safety briefing).
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a must for working within any scenario at the site. People in street clothes or without helmets/gloves/etc as shown below are limited to paved roads only. If you are working in/near a scenario, you must wear ALL the equipment shown below. Compliance with these personal protective equipment rules are mandatory - it is standard practice for US&R environments.
isd-webmaster@cme.nist.gov
Date Created: 01/29/2008
Last updated:
11/10/2008