I/UCRC Center for Safety, Security and Rescue Robotics (C-SSRR)

University Of South Florida, Tampa FL

Investigators

Abstract

This award supports the planning a multi-university, multi-disciplinary Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) for Safety, Security and Rescue Robots (C-SSRR). C-SSRR will bring together industry, academe, and public sector users together to provide integrative robotics and artificial intelligence solutions for activities conducted by the police, FBI, FEMA, firefighters, transportation safety officials, and emergency responders to mass casualty-related activities. The need for SSRR has accelerated in the aftermath of 9/11 and a new research community is forming, as witnessed by the first IEEE Workshop on Safety, Security and Rescue Robotics in February 2003. The Center will be built upon the knowledge and expertise of multi-disciplinary researchers in computer science, engineering, industrial organization, psychology, public health, and marine sciences at the University of South Florida and the University of Minnesota. Together, the two institutions support a research program in control of vehicles, human-robot interaction, and sensors and sensor fusion combined with rapid prototyping capabilities and access to users and high-fidelity testing sites throughout the country.