Design of multi sensor units for searching inside of rubble

"Search balls" are small sensor units for searching inside of rubble. Each ball is not equipped with locomotion mechanism but contains some sensors for searching for disaster victims and a radio transceiver in an impact-resistant outer shell. Many balls are thrown into rubble and fall down while repeatedly colliding; they are scattered inside the rubble. The sensor information from the balls is transmitted on radio out of the rubble and monitored at a safe area. Thus, rescuers can search a wide area inside the rubble rapidly. The developed ball has two wireless cameras for search, infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) for illumination, a radio receiver for communication with outside monitoring computers, and a battery; these are packed into an impact-resistant sphere outer shell. This ball can provide the view of its entire circumstance by rotating the cameras using a motor. Just like a brim of a hat, a ring is attached to the shell for suppressing rolling of the ball; it is effective for the distribution of balls inside rubble.