IIT Mandi Trainees Develop Multi-Agent Robotic System to Deliver Relief Supplies During Disasters

Mandi, May 7:
Trainees at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have developed a multi-agent robotic system designed to assist in delivering relief materials to disaster-affected areas. The innovative system combines aerial and ground vehicles, working in tandem to transport supplies efficiently.

The ground vehicle is tasked with carrying the relief materials, while the aerial vehicle guides it through navigation assistance. IIT Mandi claims this system could prove to be highly effective in reaching inaccessible or high-risk zones during emergencies.

Beyond disaster response, the system also shows promise for applications such as automated warehouses and other logistics-based operations. The project has been developed under the guidance of Prof. Amit Shukla from the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, with support from Prof. Ashok Kumar of the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

The research team has been working on this project for the past two years. The ground vehicle, which has been developed entirely at IIT Mandi, is capable of moving in any direction. At present, the system focuses on transporting materials from one location to another. Work is ongoing to enhance the aerial component, enabling it to autonomously offload supplies at the destination in the near future.