A gap analysis was performed and operational use cases and requirements were defined in close consultation with external stakeholders. One key finding was that early scene assessment and exploitation of a potential CBRNe attack has a critical role to play in response at strategic and political levels.
ROCSAFE’s Robotic Aerial Vehicle (RAV) platform is designed to automatically survey the scene and assist in the location of CBRNe hotspots. It supports autonomous navigation with obstacle detection and mapping, as well as autonomous precision landing. During the flight, images of the event are collected and sent in real time to the Central Decision Management. It also carries a the ROCSAFE Turret, containing a cluster of sensors.
The Turret is a sensor-based R&N, Bio and Chemical remote-controlled sample collection system connected to the RAV. It performs initial analysis on R&N and Chemicals by being winched close to the target area. It collects Bio samples for later analysis in the Landing Pod.
After collecting samples, RAVs land on a Landing Pod which has been towed into position by the Robotic Ground Vehicle. The sample handling system inside it manages the reception of used turrets from the RAV, the delivery of fresh turrets to the RAV, and the delivery of turrets to the analysis modules inside the Landing Pod.
A Robotic Ground Vehicle (RGV) has been developed for remote payload collection. This is based on an new system, Reacher, which is a 450kg Explosive Ordnance Disposal Vehicle. Operator pre-set commands allow the Reacher 7 DOF arm to semi-autonomously utilise forensic evidence containers. New tools have been designed for swabbing, liquid collection, powder collection and larger object collection, to replicate procedures used by forensic investigators.
New sensors for toxic chemicals and explosives have been developed. One is a lightweight infrared analyser with vapour phase pre-concentrator, that can be mounted on small RAVs. Another is a portable rugged chemical sensor based on gas chromatography and quartz-enhanced acoustic spectroscopy, that can be mounted on RGVs. It detects a variety of chemical warfare agents and drug precursors, even in the presentence of interferents like gasoline, detergents and paints.
A Lab-on-a-Chip analyser has been developed for molecular biological analysis of air. It consists of two components, the microfluidic chip and the operating device. The complete analysis process is covered by the chip which contains all required reagents in order to build a “sample in – result out” system. Molecular identification via Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction covers eight typical CBRNE-related pathogenic organisms: Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Burkholderia mallei, Burholderia pseudomallei, Brucella melitensis, Brucella abortis, Coxiella burnetti, and Bacillus anthracis.
The Radiation Detector is integrated with the RAVs and RGVs. It detects increased levels of gamma radiation and identifies radionuclides. The detection principle is based on scintillation (conversion of high energy gamma rays into lower energy visible photons by a scintillator) and subsequent conversion into an electronic signal by a photo detector.
ROCSAFE has a Central Decision Management (CDM) system to support the people on the scene by providing timely and relevant information, reducing the cognitive load on the investigators. It provides route planning for teams or RAVs, considering their sensor payloads. It provides secure data communications to coordinate all other aspects of ROCSAFE. It provides innovative AI algorithms for analysing images and for probabilistic reasoning about most likely threats given data from sensors.
The CDM works with the Command, Control and Communication Interface, which provides a comprehensive user interface for visualising all information coming from the crime scene and supporting the decision-making process. Virtual environments have also been built to support testing of scenarios, using a 3D physics-based game engine.
All of the ROCSAFE subsystems have been integrated and comprehensively tested and validated. In addition, the consortium held two large public demonstration/dissemination events, one in Baldonnel Aerodrome, Dublin, in Sept 2019 and the other in Sagunto Port, Valencia, in Nov 2019. Both of these were attended by large numbers of external end users. The second one was a joint exercise with the SAURON H2020 project.
