Published on 25 April 2025

ARCHE - robotics for the disaster relief of the future

The “Advanced Robotic Capabilities for Hazardous Environments” event (ARCHE) is the fruit of a collaboration between the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre (SDRC) of the DDPS, armasuisse Science and Technology, the Engineering/Rescue/NBC Unit and ETH Zurich. The ARCHE platform aims to further knowledge of robotic applications in the service of the army and the authorities responsible for security, in particular with regard to disaster relief, while enabling the evaluation of their operational deployment.

Beyond the technical evaluation, ARCHE helps identify the tools necessary for rapid intervention in the event of a malfunction. The event brings together the scientific community specialising in disaster relief and fosters dialogue with the end users, and in particular the Swiss Armed Forces and other authorities tasked with fulfilling security missions.

Under the direction of the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre (SDRC), a department of armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T), ARCHE provides researchers with an opportunity to test their demonstrators in the field of disaster protection in realistic conditions, often for the very first time. Primarily evaluated in the laboratory until now, these systems can thus be subjected to constraints faced in the field, thereby making it possible to observe their performances and identify areas for improvement to make them more robust and operational.

This interaction creates a win-win situation: the authorities express their needs and operational challenges while researchers benefit from direct feedback concerning their work while gaining a better understanding of field requirements. This provides the requesting departments with a clear vision of technological progress and the level of maturity of the systems developed.

During previous editions, several demonstrators were thus tested in real conditions for the very first time, thereby helping to develop the robotics solutions intended for interventions in a hostile environment.

Examples of participating systems

Developed by Tethys Robotics, an ETH Zurich spin-off, the underwater robot Proteus maps the sea beds and supports search operations. Fitted with an arm that can lift up to 5 kg, it performs a wide range of logistical tasks and can incorporate other sensors, including a metal detector. Already used by the combat divers of the Swiss Armed Forces to locate ammunition residues, it maps and identifies objects in real time, making it easier to navigate under water.
Thanks to a sonar system, a Doppler velocimeter and depth sensors, Proteus is able to maintain a stable position, even in choppy waters. These sensors also make it possible to visualise the environment, detect objects in real time and generate a 3D reconstruction after each mission.
For Andrej Studer, a scientist at ETH Zurich, the aim is clear: “to make the waters safer for everyone”. The police and industry have already shown interest in this robot for its advanced applications.
A project by the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, FLIFO is a drone which also made its first appearance this year at the ARCHE event. The design of this drone tackles the following problem: the larger a drone’s propellers, the more effective it is. However, this means that a drone is unable to slip into small cracks or pass through windows. The FLIFO drone offers a solution. The particularity of this drone lies in its morphing capacity, as it can fold its arms: this means it becomes less effective for a very short period, but its size becomes half that of when its arms are fully deployed. In the future, the drone will be able to fly into collapsed buildings and help locate victims that have been buried.
Developed by the Robotic Systems Lab of ETH Zurich, ALMA (Articulated Locomotion and Manipulation) is an extension of the four-legged robot ANYmal, fitted with an internal arm and frontal cameras. Designed to operate in hazardous environments, it allows critical tasks – such as nuclear maintenance – to be automated or controlled remotely, thereby avoiding human exposure to risks.

Currently being tested to inspect the electrical installations in the Gotthard Road Tunnel, ALMA can also be used to neutralise explosive ordnance. Its 360° control system provides force feedback, facilitating precise and intuitive handling. In the long term, the addition of a second arm will further extend its capabilities.
Designed by students at ETH Zurich, the robot Magnecko is intended to inspect ships’ hulls, bridges and steel structures. It detects cracks, corrosion and loose fixings, thus playing a preventive role in order to avoid possible structural accidents.
Its particularity lies in its permanent magnets, which remain active even in the event of a power failure, thereby maintaining its adherence to metallic surfaces. Magnecko has just been tested for the first time in real conditions, and a second prototype will be developed to incorporate the lessons learned from the tests performed at ARCHE.