A stochastic search algorithm for fire rescue assistance

Abstract

This paper explores the use of mobile robot to assist in finding humans/pet in residence or workplace during fire accidents. Early detection of life and their location coordinates play a crucial role on number of causalities in fire rescue operation. The proposed robot is an autonomous robot that searches the building for human life by following a predetermined path while live streaming video of the accident zone. This paper proposes a novel search algorithm, Follow Hop Search algorithm (FHS) for early and easy detection of lives in poor lighting, smoke filled and watery environment of fire accidents. We combined maze solving algorithm along with building plan analysis and the location of properties to facilitate stochastic decision making to determine the Plausible Search Path (PSP). The developed system integrates existing fire alert system with a fully functional search robot programmed with the SHR algorithm to improve efficiency of the rescue operation.