“Smurf” Innovation from SINTEF

Researchers at Norway’s SINTEF and Japan’s Tohoku University have developed Smurf—short for Soft Miniaturised Underground Robotic Finder—a small, yellow rescue robot for disasters. Released from drones, Smurfs use cameras, heat and smell sensors, and two-way communication to locate survivors in collapsed buildings. Part of the EU-funded CURSOR project, each Smurf costs about NOK 50 000 and supports human rescuers safely and efficiently.