Ahmad Athif says there are plans to expand the X3cator robot for other uses such as to inspect an area for safety. — Photos: AHMAD 'ATHIF MOHD FAUDZI
On a sunny day last March, all eyes were fixed on a 46cm robot. Its mission: to map the surroundings for rescuers, detect poisonous gas and search for survivors.
Led by Prof Dr Ahmad ‘Athif Mohd Faudzi, it was a demo to showcase the X3cator robot, and the “survivors” were actually mannequins dressed as human workers to simulate a real-world scenario.
The “mission” was designed to display the robot’s capabilities in supporting the Hazardous Material Unit Team (Hazmat) under the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) during early reconnaissance missions.
“We spent about six months in the lab developing the robot, and to finally be able to see it in action was very exciting for us,” he says, adding that this opportunity allows the university to apply its invention in the real world and collect valuable feedback.
As the head of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Ahmad ‘Athif focuses his research on the practical applications of robotics in real-life situations.
“The Hazmat team under JBPM wanted to see if we could develop solutions to reduce the risk for the rescue team and victims,” he says.
When disaster strikes, Ahmad ‘Athif emphasises that the Hazmat team has a brief window to assess the area for gas contamination and radiation.
“They have to look through the area, retrieve samples and do analysis. I believe they have about 20 minutes to do so. Otherwise, they risk being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation,” he adds.
'We see the use of robots as encouraging to help rescuers perform data-driven action,' Ahmad 'Athif said.
Rather than dispatching a rescue team unprepared for potential dangers in the area, Ahmad ‘Athif’s solution was to deploy robots to gather initial information.
As the robot navigates the area, he says, the rescue team will be able to use the information it gathers to be better prepared for any risks, especially gases.
The X3cator is equipped with a four-gas monitoring system that simultaneously measures concentrations of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide and methane in the air.
It is also outfitted with four cameras: a front-facing HD camera, a PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera, a thermal camera and a RealSense camera which uses stereo image sensing to calculate depth. Other than the four-gas sensor, it also has a Geiger counter for detecting radiation and a Lidar for range detection.
Any information it gathers will be relayed in real-time to the response team, as the goal was to build a machine capable of “navigating complex and hazardous environments” that relays vital information that can help rescuers, according to him.
The robot, which can be operated from the command centre, can transmit data from a range of 50m to 100m and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to recognise survivors.
Upon detection, it sends a photo and features a microphone for communication and a speaker for alerting survivors.
All forms and functions
Countries across the globe are experimenting with robots and even cyborgs – short for cybernetic organism, an entity that combines both biological and artificial components – of all sizes and shapes to be used in rescue missions.
In Japan, for example, researchers are attaching electrodes and sensors to Madagascar hissing cockroaches measuring about 5cm long, which can carry up to 15g of technology such as a processor and an infrared camera.
According to the journal Nature, engineer Hirotaka Sato envisioned using remotely operated cyborg insects to aid rescue efforts after a devastating earthquake struck Tokyo in 2021 that claimed 18,000 lives.
Sato was in Tokyo when the earthquake hit, and at that moment, he realised that he needed to “develop the technology to save people”.
The small size of the cyborg cockroaches allows them to navigate through rubble more efficiently, expediting the process of locating and rescuing survivors, said Sato, now an engineer at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
The bugs can be controlled remotely or autonomously move to a preprogrammed destination on their own.
The researchers are currently enhancing the tracking and communication system to better aid rescuers in locating survivors.
There is potential in robots to be a part of rescue missions, as they can appear in all shapes and sizes.
In 2020, CGTN reported that China is “enlisting” robots to assist rescuers in firefighting missions, with the first squadron making its debut in Tongliao City in north China’s inner Mongolia autonomous region.
The Blade Formation unit comprises seven reconnaissance and firefighting robots, two drones for fire detection, and one transport vehicle.
Equipped with features like water cannons and infrared thermal imaging systems, the unmanned drones and robots can detect fire sources and perform on-site rescue, contributing to increased firefighter safety.
This month, China’s Emergency Management Ministry and Industry and Information Technology Ministry announced plans to develop a series of advanced emergency robots by 2025 for disaster prevention and rescue.
According to the Global Times, the two ministries underscored the importance of robot development in various scenarios, including flood rescue, earthquake and geological disaster relief, and urban firefighting.
The emphasis was to shift towards robots replacing humans in large-scale disaster rescue operations.
Last December, Bernama reported that firefighters at the Bagan Serai Fire and Rescue Station made a robot to help reduce the risk of injuries for firefighters during rescue operations.
Station chief Ahmad Noor Syamsi Zainoldin said that it took two months to build the 71kg robot called Serai Gorgon 1 (SG1) with components from recycled electronic appliances.
The robot is outfitted with a camera system, a gas detector and a water spray nozzle that is designed to aid firefighters in extinguishing fires.
Capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 300°C, it is operated through a remote control system.
Ahmad Noor Syamsi shared in the report that the SG1, capable of entering confined spaces, has already been deployed in two firefighting operations involving open burning in August and October of 2023.
The robot, with an overall production cost of RM11,000, also underwent performance and durability evaluations through collaborations with Sirim and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Reinventing rescue
On the day of the demonstration, Ahmad ‘Athif says the robot successfully detected methane gas, which was released in a controlled manner for the purpose of the demonstration, and alerted rescuers to a “survivor” on the site.
The demo also highlighted the need for more features geared towards improving utility in disaster-stricken areas.
“For instance, what if there’s a spill of hazardous material? Typically, a rescuer would have to retrieve the sample,” he says, adding that JBPM suggested fitting arms to the robot to not only collect samples but also perform tests.
The other concern Ahmad ‘Athif had was the robot’s ability to transmit information while in a building, as thick walls could block or disrupt transmission.
“In that case, being able to operate the robot through a 5G network is essential. For now, we’re relying on WiFi and radio communications.
“Plus, it has a limited range. That is also something we need to improve on,” he says.
The production timeline for the X3cator robot is estimated at approximately 90 days, with ongoing efforts to introduce it to the market through a leasing model.
“The cost to lease will vary based on the period and types of functions required,” he adds.
He says plans are in place to expand the use of the X3cator robot, including for tasks such as safety inspections.
For instance, the various sensors on the robot could prove valuable in detecting potential threats, such as dangerous wildlife.
In the end, it’s all about data, Ahmad ‘Athif says, emphasising that decision-making grounded in real-world information will reduce delays and prove more valuable than relying solely on experience or intuition.
“We see the use of robots as encouraging to help rescuers perform data-driven action,” he adds.
Companies in the country, he says, have expressed interest in seeking local solutions.
“We’ve had discussions about why it would be difficult to rely on foreign solutions due to concerns that it won’t be easy to reach out for technical support or assistance.
“They feel that we need to close the gap by working with locally- based experts who can be relied on for maintenance as well,” he says.
However, he points out that local technology needs government support, especially in terms of financing, adding that the X3cator project received RM250,000 in funding from MYHackathon.
MYHackathon, initiated by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) and spearheaded by the Cradle Fund, aims to enhance government service delivery through digital solutions.
Ultimately, Ahmad ‘Athif envisions a future where robotic solutions can mitigate risks for humans in any field of work, particularly in 3D jobs defined as “dangerous, dirty, and difficult”.
Leveraging his role as an educator, he says he strives to inspire a new generation of students to delve into robotics.
“When we collaborate with first-year students, we always ask them to show us what kind of ideas they have that would be able to change the lives of people.
“Then we work together in the hopes that we can solve some problems through the innovative use of technology,” he says.
