Türkiye Leverages AI and Robotics for Enhanced Disaster Preparedness

In the wake of a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye two years ago, a collaborative effort has emerged to bolster disaster preparedness using cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies. This initiative is supported by grants from NVIDIA and the Bridge to Türkiye Fund, according to NVIDIA.

Empowering Innovation Through Grants

The Disaster Response Innovation and Education Grant, a joint venture between NVIDIA and the Bridge to Türkiye Fund, has played a pivotal role in this initiative. The grant provided 100 NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kits and $50,000 distributed among eight projects focused on AI-powered inspection, search and rescue, and robotics education. These efforts aim to enhance disaster response capabilities and engineering education across Türkiye.

Robotics in Search and Rescue

At Ankara University, researchers have developed a modular unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with thermal and RGB-D cameras, powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit. This UGV is designed to support search-and-rescue operations by scanning environments in 3D and detecting thermal activity, allowing operators to identify human presence in disaster zones safely.

Training Future Innovators

Hacettepe University has integrated NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit-based projects into its curriculum, enabling students to build autonomous robots, known as “Duckiebots,” with simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) capabilities. This training equips students with vital skills for developing AI-powered robots that can navigate complex post-disaster environments.

Pathogen Screening in Disaster Areas

Researchers at Bilkent University have constructed a mini supercomputer cluster using NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kits for rapid pathogen screening in disaster-stricken areas. This portable cluster performs metagenomic analysis on-site, helping prevent disease outbreaks by quickly identifying pathogens in water and food sources.

Advancing AI Education

The Izmir Institute of Technology has utilized the NVIDIA Jetson Nano devices and CUDA tools to enhance its AI and robotics curriculum. Nearly 80 undergraduates have gained hands-on experience in accelerated computing and deep learning, preparing them to develop future life-saving technologies.

This comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness underscores the critical role of AI and robotics in mitigating the effects of natural disasters and fostering innovation in engineering education across Türkiye.

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