iRobot Experience in Recent Disaster ResponsesMajGen David “Duncan” Heinz, USMC (ret)

Vice President, Maritime SystemsiRobot Corp

iRobot 710 Warrior

iRobot 510 PackBotiRobot

1KA Seaglider

Robots That Make a Difference

iRobot Humanitarian MissionsGround Zero, Sept. 15, 2001 - NYC

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill - 2010

Law Enforcement (Bomb Threat) - 2009

Fukushima Daiichi, Japan - 2011

iRobot Seaglider – Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

• iRobot Seaglider autonomously collects ocean data for months at a time at depths of up to 1,000 meters

• iRobot launched its own Seaglider in the Gulf of Mexico to help researchers identify underwater oil plumes resulting from the spill

• iRobot helped the U.S. Navy outfit two additional Seagliders with oil detection capabilities

“iRobot responded to the spill immediatelyby preparing and hand-delivering a Seagliderto the accident site within a very short time,making them the very first autonomousvehicle of any kind to be used to survey thearea for subsurface oil.” – Dr. Vernon Asper,University of Southern Mississippi

iRobot Support to Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Crisis:

• Rapidly deployed (2) 510 Packbots and (2) 710 Warriors to Japan less than a week after the devastating Tsunami

• 6 iRobot employees traveled to Japan to assemble the robots and provide operator training to TEPCO personnel

• PackBot provided the first look into the interiors of Reactors 1, 2 and 3 and supported radiation measurements and cooling water system inspections

• Warrior used to assist in clean-up activities

iRobot 510 PackBot Multi-Mission Robot

iRobot 710 Warrior

Fukushima Video Here?

Premise for Sending Robots

• 2 overarching factors– Area inaccessibility -- “Too Hard” – Risk to human life -- “Too Dangerous”

• Less obvious– More economical– Better suited to mission

Challenges with Robot Use

• Rapid response– Language, area access, training

• Unknown or poorly defined mission• Suitability of system to environment

– Sensors, strap-on customization, communications

• Go with what you have – When rapid response matters, must resist urge to “create” new solutions

Key Points and Lessons Learned

• Understanding the mission– Sending the right equipment with the right people

• Robustness of design– New mission needs WILL happen– Ability to change/add sensors– Strap-on customization

• Training and rehearsal– Absolutely KEY to success!

• Spares and business relationships• Reach back

Conclusions

1. Flexible, robust robot that is reconfigurable quickly at the disaster site critical

2. Ease of use and common software architecture across all platforms is key to efficiently training new operators

3. Communications challenges, demand robot platforms that offer a variety of communications options

4. Mature robotic technology based on years of development and use in hostile environments guarantees a higher level of success

5. Rapid establishment of business relationships critical to supporting on-going technical and logistics needs

6. When disaster strikes, you go with what you have, not what you wish you had

The Right Partner with the Right Equipment Matters

“SAVE A LIFE, SEND A ROBOT”THANK YOU

Back-Up Slides

iRobot Training the TEPCO EngineersTraining Challenges Encountered• Language barriers• No prior robot experience• Needed rapid response

to critical situation

Key Success Drivers• Easy to learn controls

–Game-style controller• Menu driven SW features• Common SW across all platforms

OCU Graphical User Interface

Hand Controller

Rapid Response Requirements

Deployment challenges• No direct access to disaster site• Specific mission objectives

unknown• Radiation impact to robots

unknown

Key Success Drivers• Multi-mission capability

–Aware 2 common software architecture

–Over 65 different accessories, payloads and tool options

• Flexible communications packages

TEPCO CONOPS

TEPCO priorities1. Radiation detection / mapping2. Survey damage / gain SA3. Debris removal4. Monitor facility recovery efforts

CONOPS implementation• Extensive rehearsals prior to

mission execution• Missions executed on a tight

timetable–Missions: 2 - 3 per day, biweekly–Duration: ~2 hours

• Day-to-Day objectives change frequently

Supplemental Radiac Sensor

4/17/2011 – First Entry

4/17/2011 – Damage Assessment & Radiation Measurement

7/2/2011 – Warrior Deployment

Reactor Environment

Disaster site challenges• High levels of radiation• High temperature & humidity• Limited visibility in steam• Floor-to-floor access & comms• Compliance w/ Japan RF

regulationsKey success drivers• Robust robot design, fieldproven• Multiple sensor capability

–Cameras –Lighting–Radiation Detectors

• Multiple communication options(2.4GHz, 4.9GHz, & Fiber Optic Tether)

Sample Radiation Map Measured by PackBot

Gamma Ray Camera on 710 Warrior

On-Going Support

Challenges• Lack of formal agreements• Limited comms at disaster site

prevents contact w/ End-Users• Export licensing requirements• Providing service for

contaminated robotsKey success drivers• Follow-on training• Daily tele-con with Japan• OEM reach-back for technical and

logistics support• Available spares at or near

disaster site• Established business relationship

June 5, 2011 News Article: PackBot used in Reactor #1 to measure 4,000 mSv/hr radiation levels

iRobot Proprietary

Critical Requirements for Disaster Robots1. Flexible Robot – Multi-mission, plug & play compatibility allows the robot to be

quickly reconfigured at disaster location to meet mission objectives2. Open Software Architecture – Allows for continuous enhancements and

facilitates new payload development3. Operator Friendly – Menu driven, PlayStation hand controllers, easy and

intuitive to learn, supported by a common software across all robot platforms4. Logistics and Operation Support – Spare parts, maintenance and field services

ready to be deployed5. Open Institutional Architecture – Knowledge base global reach, local

application payload development6. Field Proven – 4,000 robots delivered, continual feedback from operation in

hostile environments and disaster area usage drives quality and robustness7. Human Protection – Keeping human work force out of harm’s way

– Robust & reliable radio communications – Rechargeable power source – Remote surveillance for best situational awareness– Worker/soldier on-site load reduction (reduce human presence of transporting

materials, removing debris and overall exposure time)8. Preparedness for Terrorism & Outside Threats – similar incident situation

iRobot Proprietary