Scientists who are training rats to save people from under the debris of a building after an earthquake have shared an update about the project. These scientists from Eindhoven University of Technology are training the rats to locate a survivor in a simulated room, pull a switch on their vest to trigger a beeper and then return to base where they are rewarded with a treat, according to a report in CNN. The project, brainchild of Belgian non-profit organisation APOPO, also involves the use of a backpack. [1]

Figure 1. Rats with Backpack are Being Trained to Rescue Earthquake Survivors

Figure 1 shows the rats are currently being trained to find survivors in a simulated disaster zone. They must first locate the target person in an empty room, pull a switch on their vest that triggers a beeper, and then return to base, where they are rewarded with a treat.

While the rodents are still in the early stages of training, APOPO is collaborating with the Eindhoven University of Technology to develop a backpack, which is equipped with a video camera, two-way microphone, and location transmitter to help first responders communicate with survivors. [2]

It was during his master’s internship at APOPO in 2019 at the Eindhoven University ofTechnology that Verdiesen began thinking about how to “apply technology to improve lives.” He was tasked with creating the first prototype of the rat backpack to help rescuers understand what was going on inside disaster zones.

The output consisted of a 3D-printed plastic container with a video camera that sent live footage to a receiver module on a laptop while saving a high-quality version on an SD card. This required attaching a neoprene vest to the rats, a material used for scuba suits. [3]

Rats get a bad reputation

Dr. Kean, who studied ecology at Strathclyde University before going on to do an MA at the University of Kent and a PhD at Stirling University, was originally interested in primate behavior. However, she was fascinated by how quickly rats can learn certain skills and says it’s a misconception that they are unhygienic. [4]

References:

1. https://www.gadgets360.com/science/news/how-rats-with-backpack-are-being-trained-to-rescue-earthquake-survivors-3461007
2. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/24/world/search-and-rescue-rats-apopo-hnk-spc-intl/index.html
3. https://greekreporter.com/2022/10/27/rats-trained-rescue-earthquake-survivors/
4. https://studyfinds.org/rats-help-earthquake-survivors/

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022) Rats with Backpack are Being Trained to Rescue Earthquake Survivors, Anatechmaz, pp. 417