Disaster Surveillance Robotic Vehicle

Abstract

In recent years, the frequency of natural and human-induced disasters, including earthquakes, fires, and floods, has 
significantly increased, creating major challenges for search, rescue, and disaster management operations. Deploying 
human personnel in such hazardous environments is often dangerous, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. This 
project presents the design and development of an IoT-enabled robotic vehicle for disaster surveillance and real-time 
monitoring. The proposed robotic system is capable of remote operation through wireless communication, allowing 
rescue personnel to monitor disaster-affected areas from a safe distance. An ultrasonic sensor is integrated for 
obstacle detection and collision avoidance, ensuring safe navigation in complex environments. A thermal sensor is 
employed to detect abnormal heat signatures that may indicate the presence of survivors or fire hazards. A GPS module 
provides real-time location tracking of the robotic vehicle, while an ESP32-CAM module enables live video streaming 
for continuous visual monitoring. The entire system is controlled by an Arduino microcontroller, which coordinates 
the operation of sensors, communication modules, and actuators to ensure reliable performance. Experimental 
evaluation demonstrates that the proposed system effectively performs surveillance, obstacle avoidance, live 
monitoring, and location tracking, thereby assisting rescue teams in improving situational awareness, minimizing 
human exposure to dangerous conditions, and enhancing the overall efficiency of disaster response operations.