A review of locomotion mechanisms of urban search and rescue robot

Purpose – This study aims to investigate locomotion mechanisms of different urban search and rescue (USAR) robots currently being researched or commercially available on the market. Design/methodology/approach – USAR robots are categorized by the type of their mobility. Detailed illustration and analysis have been given for each USAR robot in the paper. Findings – The paper finds that none of current USAR robots can practically and autonomously carry out rescue work in a complex and unstructured environment. Hence, responding to the practical requirements of highly challenging USAR tasks, a team of USAR robots based on different locomotion mechanisms may be a good solution to undertake rescue activities. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides guidance in the design of future USAR robots. Originality/value – The paper investigates locomotion mechanisms of different USAR robots in detail.