ROCSAFE · Project

Robots That Investigate Dangerous Chemical and Bomb Scenes So People Don't Have To

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Imagine a bomb or chemical spill at a crime scene — right now, human investigators have to walk in wearing heavy protective suits, risking their lives to figure out what happened. ROCSAFE built drones and ground robots loaded with miniaturized sensors that fly over and drive through the danger zone instead. These robots sniff out chemical, biological, and radioactive threats, collect forensic evidence, bag and tag it automatically, and stream everything back to a command center where the scene commander can make decisions from a safe distance. Think of it as sending a robot detective into the danger zone with better senses than any human has.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries involved (DE, ES, IE, IT, PT)

demonstrated hardware prototypes

total project deliverables completed

300

metres RFID tag range for evidence tracking

SME partners in consortium

38%

industry ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

First responders and crime scene investigators currently risk their lives entering CBRNe (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive) contaminated scenes wearing heavy protective gear with limited sensor capability. Scene assessment is slow, dangerous, and forensic evidence collection under these conditions often compromises chain of custody. Organizations responsible for public safety need a way to assess threats and gather court-admissible evidence without putting personnel in harm's way.

The solution

What was built

ROCSAFE delivered a complete remotely-operated scene assessment system: drones (RAVs) carrying miniaturized chemical, biological, and radiological sensors with swappable turret systems; ground robots (RGVs) with automated forensic sample collection, bagging, and RFID tagging at 300 metres range; a Central Decision Management System with data fusion and probabilistic threat reasoning; and lab-on-a-chip platforms demonstrated across all user scenarios. In total, 39 deliverables were completed including 14 demonstrated hardware prototypes.

Audience

Who needs this

CBRN detection equipment manufacturers looking to add autonomous capabilitiesNational civil protection and bomb disposal agencies upgrading their response technologyPrivate security companies serving critical infrastructure (airports, ports, power plants)Forensic service providers handling hazardous crime scenesMilitary defense contractors developing unmanned reconnaissance systems

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Security & Defense Equipment

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of CBRN detection equipment and first responder technology

If you are a defense technology company supplying detection equipment to military or civil protection agencies — this project developed miniaturized chemical, biological, and radiological sensors integrated into drone and ground robot platforms, with 14 demonstrated hardware prototypes. The system includes a Central Decision Management platform that fuses data from multiple sensors and provides probabilistic threat assessment. This could extend your product line from standalone detectors to fully autonomous scene assessment systems.

Robotics & Autonomous Systems

mid-size

Target: Companies building commercial drones or unmanned ground vehicles for hazardous environments

If you are a robotics company looking to move beyond inspection and delivery into high-value security applications — ROCSAFE demonstrated a complete air-ground robot system where drones release sensor turrets, collect readings, swap turrets automatically, and coordinate with ground vehicles that collect forensic samples. The system works in rain, wind, and challenging terrain. With 13 consortium partners across 5 countries having validated this architecture, you could license the integration approach for your own platforms.

Forensic Services & Crime Scene Investigation

any

Target: Private forensic laboratories and crime scene investigation service providers

If you are a forensic services provider dealing with contaminated or hazardous crime scenes — this project built automated forensic sample collection, bagging, tagging, and documentation systems mounted on ground robots. The RFID tagging system works at 300 metres range, linking samples to sensor cartridges and turrets. This means chain-of-custody documentation happens automatically, producing evidence that stands up in court without putting your staff at risk.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a system like this cost to deploy?

The project budget is not available in the dataset. However, ROCSAFE was designed around 'cost-effective modern remotely-controlled robotic vehicles,' suggesting the consortium aimed for affordability relative to existing CBRN response equipment. Pricing would depend on which components a buyer needs — the full air-ground system or individual sensor modules.

Can this scale to equip multiple response teams or national agencies?

The system was demonstrated as an integrated platform with 14 hardware prototypes across sensor modules, robotic vehicles, and command software. The modular design — separate drone sensors, ground vehicle forensics, and central decision software — means agencies could scale by deploying additional vehicle units connected to the same command center. The consortium included 5 industry partners and 5 SMEs across 5 countries, suggesting manufacturing capacity exists.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can we license it?

The project was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020, meaning IP typically stays with the partners who generated it. With 13 partners including 5 SMEs and 5 industry players, licensing would likely need to be negotiated with specific partners depending on which component you need — sensors, robotics, or the decision management software.

Does this meet regulatory requirements for forensic evidence?

ROCSAFE was specifically designed so that forensic evidence 'stands up in court.' The automated collection, bagging, tagging, and RFID documentation system was built to replicate and automate best practices in forensic evidence handling. Based on available project data, the system was validated against crime scene investigation standards.

How quickly can this be integrated with our existing response equipment?

The Central Decision Management System was built as a standalone command center that receives streamed camera data, sensor readings, and analytics. The modular sensor approach — with swappable turrets on drones and ground vehicles — suggests integration with existing platforms is feasible. The RFID system provides IT linkage at 300 metres range, allowing connection to existing tracking infrastructure.

What is the current development status?

The project closed in December 2019 with 39 deliverables completed, including 14 demonstrated hardware systems. Key milestones include a full RAV system demonstration, complete ground vehicle with forensic collection, integrated decision management software, and lab-on-a-chip platforms demonstrated to work. This puts the technology at tested prototype stage, likely needing further engineering for commercial production.

Consortium

Who built it

The ROCSAFE consortium brings together 13 partners across 5 European countries (Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal), with a strong 38% industry ratio. The mix is well-balanced for commercialization: 5 SMEs bring agility and market focus, 5 industry partners provide manufacturing and distribution channels, while 2 universities and 3 research organizations supply the scientific foundation. Led by University of Galway in Ireland, the consortium has the industrial depth needed to move from prototype to product — the key question is whether the SME partners have pursued commercialization since the project ended in 2019.

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAYCoordinator · IE
IBATECH TECNOLOGIA SLparticipant · ES
CONSORZIO CREO-CENTRO RICERCHE ELETTRO OTTICHEparticipant · IT
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCEparticipant · IE
HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVEparticipant · IE
AYUNTAMIENTO DE VALENCIAparticipant · ES
AEORUM ESPANA S.L.participant · ES
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
MICROFLUIDIC CHIPSHOP GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORKparticipant · IE
INOV INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIA DE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES INOVACAOparticipant · PT

How to reach the team

University of Galway, Ireland — contact through SciTransfer for introduction to the project coordinator and relevant technology partners

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing ROCSAFE sensor modules or the decision management platform for your security products? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right consortium partner — contact us for a tailored briefing.

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