A GRASP-Based Approach for Planning UAV-Assisted Search and Rescue Missions

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Automation
• Search and Rescue Operations
• Geospatial Analysis

Background:

• Search and Rescue (SAR) missions are time-sensitive and require efficient resource allocation.
• Complex terrains and large search areas pose significant challenges for traditional SAR methods.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer speed, coverage, and flexibility for modern SAR operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a rapid solution for planning UAV-assisted SAR missions.
• To address the challenge of searching areas with variable target likelihoods.
• To automate SAR operations using heterogeneous resources efficiently.

Main Methods:

• Modeling the search area using a scoring map to represent target probability.
• Developing a heuristic approach for automated search path planning.
• Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with optical sensors.

Main Results:

• A fast, automated approach for UAV-assisted SAR mission planning was developed.
• The method effectively utilizes scarce, heterogeneous resources for efficient search.
• The scoring map aids in prioritizing search sub-areas based on target likelihood.

Conclusions:

• The proposed heuristic approach enhances the efficiency and speed of UAV-assisted SAR missions.
• Automated planning optimizes resource utilization in complex and uncertain search environments.
• This system provides a valuable tool for improving outcomes in time-critical SAR operations.