In disaster situations, first responders (FRs) are often forced into dangerous, unpredictable environments where visibility is low, structures are unstable, and time is critical. The CARMA project (Collaborative Autonomous Robots for eMergency Assistance) is addressing this challenge head-on by developing a new generation of smart robotic systems that can work in true symbiosis with humans.
One of the highlights of CARMA is the use of quadruped robotic platforms like the ANYmal-D from ANYbotics, a state-of-the-art inspection robot that DRZ (Deutsches Rettungsrobotik-Zentrum) provides as part of the project.
ANYmal’s Technical Edge for First Response?
The ANYmal-D is not your average robot. Built for industrial inspection, it is a four-legged robot capable of navigating stairs, rough terrain, and confined spaces that would be inaccessible to wheeled or tracked robots.
Key technical features include:
- High mobility: its legged design enables it to operate in cluttered, uneven, or partially collapsed environments.
- Inspection payload: equipped with high-resolution cameras, sensors, and onboard computing.
- Autonomy-ready: supports integration of additional sensing modules, such as LiDAR or radar, for mapping and navigation.
- Payload flexibility: can carry up to ~10kg of additional equipment.
This versatility makes ANYmal an ideal candidate for exploring hazardous areas, from smoke-filled basements to industrial accident sites.
CARMA’s Innovation
CARMA pushes the boundaries of disaster robotics by combining advanced sensing, AI, and human-robot collaboration.
For DRZ, the role is twofold:
- Provide the robotic platform (ANYmal-D) and its specifications.
- Integrate and evaluate partners’ innovations on the robot.
One of the most promising upgrades comes from our partners, who are designing a novel radar payload. Unlike optical or thermal sensors, radar can “see” through smoke, dust, or darkness, conditions that usually block conventional sensors. Integrated on ANYmal, this means first responders could remotely explore environments that are otherwise inaccessible.
Once the payload is complete, DRZ will test and evaluate it in our LivingLab and outdoor training facilities, replicating realistic disaster conditions.
The challenge
Developing and deploying robotic systems for disaster response is not just a technical endeavor, it’s a multi-layered challenge that spans science, engineering, operations, and collaboration.
One of the core difficulties is the environment itself. Smoke-filled, dark, or dust-laden spaces remain extremely hard to simulate and evaluate consistently. Creating realistic test conditions is vital for ensuring that new technologies such as radar-based sensing are truly reliable in the field. This requires innovation not only in hardware and software, but also in how we design, replicate, and measure disaster scenarios for testing.
Another dimension is coordination across partners. CARMA brings together a diverse consortium of technology providers, researchers, and end users. This variety is a strength, it means innovations can be tested from many different angles, but it also requires careful alignment. Every partner comes with unique perspectives: some pushing the technological boundaries, others emphasizing operational realism. Striking the right balance is essential.
Finally, there is the challenge of managing expectations. It is tempting to imagine an “all-in-one super-robot,” but CARMA’s value lies in delivering practical, usable tools that first responders can trust. This means focusing on features that solve real problems in the field, such as navigation in low-visibility conditions, or safe exploration of hazardous areas, while keeping integration feasible.
Rather than seeing these as obstacles, CARMA treats them as opportunities for innovation. The project’s iterative and user-centered approach ensures that technical development is constantly grounded in operational feedback. This way, every challenge becomes a stepping stone toward systems that are not only cutting-edge, but also truly fit for purpose in saving lives.
Functional Benefits for First Responders
Robots like ANYmal are not designed to replace humans, but to take on the riskiest tasks so that responders can focus on life-saving operations.
Some key benefits include:
- Reduced risk: robots can enter environments unsafe for humans.
- Expanded access: quadrupeds can climb stairs, navigate rubble, and reach areas where wheeled robots would fail.
- Potential explosion protection: ANYmal platforms also have Ex-proof variants for hazardous atmospheres.
- Multi-mission capability: with the radar payload, robots can act as scouts, hazard detectors, or communication relays.
The Integration Challenge
Integration is where innovation meets reality. Two major issues stand out:
- Payload constraints: ANYmal can carry ~10kg, which limits the size and complexity of additional modules.
- Cross-platform compatibility: the radar payload is meant to work across multiple robotic platforms, each with different technical standards. This requires extra development effort to ensure interoperability.
Looking Ahead
The vision behind CARMA is ambitious: to make robot-human symbiosis a reality in disaster response. For first responders, this means tools that extend their reach, improve situational awareness, and keep them safer in the most critical moments.
At DRZ, our role is to ensure that this vision is grounded in reality – by testing, validating, and pushing the technology under realistic conditions. The ANYmal-D, with its upcoming radar payload, is one of the key stepping stones on this path.
Because in the end, the success of CARMA will not be measured by flashy prototypes, but by how much safer and more effective it makes first responders in the field.