The CURSOR Video Library

Iterative testing of a diverse set of technologies is crucial for the development of the CURSOR SaR kit. Drones that have been adapted to the needs of the project, e.g. with a transport mechanism to fly our minituarised robots into the disaster zone, sensors serving as an “artificial nose” and an Information and Communication Technology to bring everything together are constantly tested with technological partners and First Responders in lab and field tests.

Learn more about these tests and where we stand with our technological developments with watching our videos.

CURSOR Official Presentation Video

This is the official video of the CURSOR project giving an overview on the project and its aims. CURSOR will develop a CURSOR Search and Rescue Kit using drones, miniaturised robotic equipment, and advanced sensors reducing time for detection and rescue of victims trapped under debris while increasing the personal safety of the SaR (Search and Rescue) teams. 

CURSOR Lab Test 5, Felixdorf, Austria, 22- 23 April 2021 (short version)

CURSOR project is moving ahead showing at its Lab Test in Felixdorf, Austria, in April 2021 how the system is being integrated with a focus on the drone development.

CURSOR Lab Test 5, Felixdorf, Austria, 22- 23 April 2021 (long version)

CURSOR project moved ahead showing at its Lab Test in Felixdorf, Austria, in April 2021 how the system is being integrated with a focus on the drone development. This video gives you in depth information on the test, for a short summary, please refer to the video above.

SMURF- Soft Miniaturised Underground Robotic Finder moving on debris

The CURSOR project will generate the innovative CURSOR Search and Rescue Kit, which will include Soft Miniaturised Underground Robotic Finders (SMURFs). The SMURFs are equipped with chemical sensors that allow to detect a wide range of chemical substances indicating human presence. They are carried from the operations headquarters to the disaster site by a transport drone. On site, the robots work independently in clusters searching for survivors. This video show a first test with the SMURF moving on debris.

CURSOR Overview on Drone Development

Do you want to learn more about our drones? Watch this video prepared for the mid-term review of the CURSOR Project, giving an overview on the drone development.

SMURF- Soft Miniaturised Underground Robotic Finder moving on floor

The CURSOR project will generate the innovative CURSOR Search and Rescue Kit, which will include Soft Miniaturised Underground Robotic Finders (SMURFs). The SMURFs are equipped with chemical sensors that allow to detect a wide range of chemical substances indicating human presence. They are carried from the operations headquarters to the disaster site by a transport drone. On site, the robots work independently in clusters searching for survivors. This video shows the SMURF moving on the floor.

Mothership Drone Z30

The mothership drone provides continuous situational awareness as “Eye-in-the Sky” with a powerful zoom-video camera, and can also serve as a stationary communications drone, coordinating communication between me, the drone-system and first responders on scene. This video shows the drone during a first field trial test on 25- 26 of August 2020 in Felixdorf, Austria.

CURSOR featured in the Science Show "Gut zu Wissen" in German TV

The German regional TV station, Bayerischer Rundfunk, featured the CURSOR project and its first Small Scale Field Test in Freising, Germany, in its Science Show “Gut zu Wissen”.

SMURF visualization tool for autonomous systems

This video was made by SINTEF and illustrates preliminary results of the UViz – visualization tool for autonomous systems built in Unity and ROS2. Part of this work was done in CURSOR, in particular the one connected to the visualisation of the SMURFs and their positions in a 3D window. The First Responders will be able to see how the deployed SMURFs are positioned in a 3D window visualising a 3D model of the rubble pile.

Field test SMURF, Japan, July 2021

At a field test in Japan in July 2021 the mobility of SMURF was tested in challenging terrain. Here, researchers from Tohoku University analysed how SMURF managed to climb over debris in a realistic setting. Great advances in terms of mobility were able to be shown in comparison with the first prototype.

Video on SMURF Test in Brignoles, September 2021

The first field assessment of the mini robot SMURF was held to test mobility capacities on different surfaces as well as the sensing capacities in realistic conditions, in particular using embedded cameras. Sniffer submodules were integrated into two SMURF and tested in mobile conditions in the field. A Mesh network allowing communication features for the SMURF with the workstation was also deployed and evaluated. First responders could test the tools and drive the SMURFs on different surfaces and through obstacles. The SMURF sensors were also tested in the presence of volunteer’s “victims” and their output was observed on the workstation: video and infra-red cameras, and Sniffer raw data.

CURSOR Small Scale Field Test 1.2, 28 - 30 Sept 2021 (short summary on SMURF capabilities)

This video shows a short summary of the capabilities of the SMURF robot as they were shown at the CURSOR Small Scale Field Test in Brignoles, France, in September 2021, especially regarding its mobility capacities on different surfaces. If you want to learn more on the full test, see our summary video here: CURSOR Small Scale Field Test 1 2, SMURF, Brignoles, France, 28 – 30 September 2021 – YouTube

Video on Small Scale Field Test in Chambéry, 7-11 March, 2022

The aim of this field test to evaluate the results of the SNIFFER sensor when integrated in the SMURF robot. Experiments were conducted in different conditions, and first responders had a chance to locate victims and to analyse video and thermal cameras outputs on the SMURF workstation.

SNIFFER was able to make measurements of specific human VOC (volatile organic compounds), of level of CO2, attesting life presence, and of cadaver specific chemicals. This data will be used by CEA and UNIMAN to calibrate the SNIFFER response in the presence of a human and deliver a signal for an alive human presence. A Mesh network allowing localisation of the SMURF was also deployed and the location and path of the SMURF could be visualised.

Use Case 3 Test in Brignoles, France, 13- 17 June, 2022

At the CURSOR Use case 3 test the main aim was to first test the whole SaR kit developed in CURSOR in close to real conditions. A large rubble pile, usually used by the military units for training, was the place for a scenario of an earthquake in the area of Brignoles.  During this field test, the project organised scenarios that reproduced the search of victims buried under rubble. All the tools developed by CURSOR in the SaR kit were deployed: Drones, Common Operational Picture, SMURF and SNIFFER and geophones.

 

Video on SMURF Field Test in Trondheim, Norway, September 2022

This video shows a training exercise that took place close to the Sandemoen fire station not far from the SINTEF office in Trondheim following an invitation from Trøndelag brann- og redningstjeneste (TBRT). SINTEF brought two SMURFs (final version) and the SMURF workstation (WS). This was a very nice opportunity for SINTEF to test in the field latest updates on the SMURF hardware and software. At the same time the TBRT USaR team had a look at the SMURF prototypes and took them in use during their training.

 

CURSOR Japan Field Test, 26 September, 2022

At the Hyogo Prefectural Emergency Management and Training Center the SMURFs and Cyber Rescue Canines have been tested. Knowledge exchange between Japanese Universites (Tohoku University, Jobu University, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo University of Science, Kobayashi Institute for Creation Research) and CURSOR Technical Partners Tohoku University and SINTEF took place at the test site. At the same time, Japanse First Responders with expert knowledge on earthquake disaster relief operations such as the Kobe City Fire Department and the Japan Rescue Association provided their first-hand knowledge and shared their impressions with European First Responders THW, EPLFM and HRTA. Both sides are delighted and grateful with this fruitful exchange organised by the CURSOR project partner Tohoku University.

 

Video on Large Scale Field Test in Afidnes, Greece, November 2022

At the CURSOR Large Scale Field Test the main aim was to was to demonstrate the complete and integrated CURSOR toolkit in various USAR scenarios and in almost all INSARAG-based deployment protocols and documentation. All the tools developed by CURSOR in the SaR kit were deployed: Drones, Common Operational Picture, SMURF and SNIFFER and geophones. The final pilot tested the CURSOR toolkit and its next-generation functionalities to the extreme, from night drone flights to airdrops of UGVs under windy raining conditions.

 

CURSOR Final Video

In this mini-documentary you will get an overview on the CURSOR Project and its main developments over the last 3.5 years.

 

CURSOR