Published as a chapter in Disaster Robotics, the work by K. Ohno, Ryunosuke Hamada, and over twenty collaborators presents a transformative approach to supporting search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. Their Cyber-Enhanced Rescue Canine (CRC) system is designed to digitally amplify the abilities of certified SAR dogs by equipping them with advanced sensing technologies.
The CRC suit integrates cameras, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and GNSS to capture a dog’s surrounding environment, movement, behavior, and internal state. Sensor data are transmitted to cloud services—including AWS, Google Maps, and camera servers—enabling handlers and command centers to access real-time visualizations of the dog’s field of view, trajectory, and behavioral cues.
One key innovation is the system’s ability to plot the dog’s trajectory onto aerial imagery obtained by ground or aerial disaster robots. This allows operators to map search coverage, identify unsearched areas, and coordinate rescues with greater situational awareness.
The research team developed multiple lightweight CRC suit prototypes, capable of non-invasively monitoring large and medium-sized SAR dogs. These suits were evaluated using certified search dogs from the Japan Rescue Dog Association (JRDA), ensuring that the designs met operational demands.
Six major contributions emerged from the project. (1) Robust, lightweight suits were successfully engineered; (2) onboard cameras and deep neural networks enabled automatic detection of objects left by victims; (3) heart-rate variation measurements allowed estimation of positive and negative emotional states; (4) IMU data were used to infer behaviors such as walking, running, and barking; (5) visual SLAM and inertial navigation systems enabled trajectory estimation in GNSS-denied environments; and (6) integrated laser light sources were used to guide and train SAR dogs during searches.
By combining robotics, AI, and canine expertise, the CRC platform provides a powerful tool for enhancing communication, safety, and efficiency during disaster operations. These technologies bring unprecedented insight into the dog’s perspective, supporting faster and more informed search-and-rescue decision-making.
Source: Ohno, K., Hamada, R., & collaborators (2019). Cyber-Enhanced Rescue Canine. In Disaster Robotics. Published 2019.
