ROBOVOLC A ROBOT FOR VOLCANO EXPLORATION IST Prof. Giovanni Muscato, Università degli Studi di CATANIA, Italy First concertation meeting of “Applications for the protection of Environment” Brussels, 4/5 May 2000 Università degli Studi di Catania

Outline of presentation Introduction Description of work Description of consortium Exploitation and dissemination

ROBOVOLC : Project Abstract The main objective of this project is the development and trial of an automatic robotic system to explore and perform measurements in a volcanic environment. A major aim of the proposed robot will be that of minimizing the risk for volcanologists who are involved in work close to volcanic vents during eruptive phenomena. Observations of and measurement of the variables relating to volcanic activity are of greatest interest during paroxismal phases of eruptions, which unfortunately are also the time of greatest risk for humans.

Introduction Project Goal Project Objective Operational Goals Baseline Data Measure of Success Assessment and Evaluation

Project goal Enhance knowledge of the volcanic process to contribute to eruption forecasting Reduce the risk for volcanologists operating in proximity to volcanic vents Improve volcanic risk assessment

Project objectives Development and trial of an automatic robotic system capable of: –approaching an active volcanic vent –collecting samples of the volcanic products erupted –measuring physical and chemical data on the eruptive process –surveying close to vent openings

Operational Goals Development of a tele-operated robot able to approach to active volcanic vents. Development of a small measurement system for lava and volcanic gas analysis and sample collecting.

The Robot Suitable for autonomous / semi- autonomous exploration of natural irregular and extremely rough unstructured environments. Resistant to the high temperatures and contaminated atmosphere and to the impact of volcanic bombs and blocks.

The measurement system Sampling of volcanic gas, molten lava or rocks near the active vents Analysis of volcanic gas Measurement of gas and lava temperatures Measurement of physical parameters of the volcanic jets Measurement of physical parameters of the lava stream Determination of the volcanic vents morphology and topography

Baseline Data In the last decade alone, due to both the unpredictable timing and the magnitude of volcanic phenomena, several volcanologists have died surveying eruptions Several active volcanic areas are not accessible to human operators To date a robot for volcano exploration and measurement has never been implemented in an EC country

Measures of success Clear definition of user, general and specific requirements Detailed system specifications and design Fully functional robot prototype and measurement system Results of tests

Assessment and evaluation MS1 Common understanding of the user requirements and outline specification MS2 Consortium agree detailed specification and design scheme MS3 Consortium agree designs MS4 Results of tests agree with specification MS5 Demonstration in volcanic environment

Description of Consortium Università degli Studi di Catania (ITALY) (UNICT) University of Portsmouth (U.K.) (UNI-PO) Istituto Internazionale di Vulcanologia - CNR - IIV ( Italy ) Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris IPGP (France) PORTECH (U.K.) ROBOSOFT (France) Academic Industrial Research organizations

Background expertise ROBOTICS UNI-PO (U.K.) PORTECH (U.K.) ROBOSOFT (France) VOLCANOLOGY IIV - CNR (Italy) IPGP (France) Robotics & Volcanology UNICT (Italy)

Background Expertise : Robotics UNICT WHEELEG ROBINSPEC Orange Picking Robot UNI-PO ROBUG PORTECH WIRED ROBVISION ROBOSOFT CLEAN AUTOWIND IMSS

Background Expertise : Volcanology CNR-IIVIPGP MADVIEW : Monitoring Active Deformation of Volcanoes by Interferometry as an Early Warning System TEKVOLC : Technique and Method Innovation in Geophysical Research, Monitoring and Early Warning at Active Volcanoes UNICT(Modelling and Data processing of geophysical data) Volcanoes Monitoring EMEWS : European Mobile Early Warning System

Description of Work 1.7 M Euro Contribution from EC 242 Person Months 36 Month duration Project start: March 2000

Description of Work WP1 Project Management, Assessment and Evaluation WP2 Requirements Engineering WP3 System specification and design scheme WP4 External sensors and manipulator WP5 Robot design WP6 Robot navigation and operator intervention WP7 Prototype implementation WP8 Trials and demonstrations WP9 Exploitation Dissemination and Implementation

WP2 Requirements Engineering WP3 System specification and Design Scheme WP4 External sensors and Manipulator WP5 Robot Design WP6 Robot Navigation and operator intervention WP7 Prototype implementation WP8 Trials and demonstrations WP9 Exploitation, Dissemination and Implementation WP1 Project Management, Assessment and Evaluation MS1 MS2 MS3 MS5 MS4 * * * O O + * = Up-dates of specifications; O = Integration aspects + = Modifications following trials MSn = MILESTONE n

Year 3 WP1 WP2 WP3 WP4 WP5 WP6 WP7 WP8 WP9 Year 1Year 2 Project Management, Assessment and Evaluation Requirements Engineering System specification and design scheme External sensors and manipulator Robot design Robot Navigation and operator intervention Prototype implementation Trials and demonstrations Exploitation, Disseminationa and Implementation Milestones

Exploitation Organization throughout Europe wishing to monitor or explore volcanoes Industrial : PORTECH, ROBOSOFT –Individual exploitation plans Universities, Research org. –Future research

Dissemination WEB site Technical papers Seminars, Conferences, Workshop CD-ROM Lectures and tutorials CLAWAR Thematic Network