After earthquakes, fires or building collapses, reaching trapped people quickly is critical but risky. Search and rescue robots, some small enough to slip through rubble and others able to climb debris, carry cameras, microphones and sensors to locate survivors and map unsafe areas before rescuers enter.
By scouting hazardous spaces first, they reduce the danger to human teams and can reach gaps a person cannot. They must cope with dust, heat and unpredictable terrain, and they work alongside rescuers rather than replacing their judgement, but in the first hours after a disaster their ability to see into the unreachable can save time and lives.