The R4 project supports multi-disciplinary research in rescue robotics through out the country. To this, we provide education about urban search and rescue (USAR) to scientists and research opportunities. It is funded by a CISE Research Resources grant from the National Science Foundation (Rita Rodriguez, Program Manager). The primary activities and opportunities are:

• An annual 'Summer Institute' in the field. In 2004, this was hosted by the NASA Ames Research Center DART as part of the "Technologists Meet the Responders Workshop." In 2003, this was co-hosted by FEMA Indiana Task Force 1 and the site was a demolished building in Lebanon, IN. This summer, we may be able to host two field outings. We have tentatively scheduled an exercise in conjunction with a USAR training event with over 200 rescue professionals sponsored by the LSU Engineering Experiment Station, June 13-19, 2004. Given that that is so early in the Summer and on the West Coast, we are discussing opportunities with East Coast teams for the August time frame.

• Loans of fieldable robotics and sensor equipment. These loans are typically for one semester or less and require training prior to loans (usually at the annual workshop). See the equipment tab for more information on what equipment we have.

• An annual workshop held during the academic year to train scientists on urban search and rescue, field data collection methodologies and safety, and how to use the robots and sensors. In 2004, the tutorial was held as part of IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in New Orleans, LA. In 2003, two workshops were held, one prior to the 2003 IEEE Workshop on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics, and at the 2003 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Tapei, Taiwan. This year, it will be held as a tutorial at the 2004 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in New Orleans, LA, on April 26, 2004.

• Proxy data collection by the CRASAR response team at field exercises where scientists aren't allowed to participate. In these cases, CRASAR scientists may be able to collect data on behalf of the community. For example, an exercise at NASA Ames in May is not open to additional scientists but CRASAR will be there. Contact Robin Murphy to submit requests for the NASA Ames exercise.

• Archival data collection. CRASAR maintains and keeps available archival video data from USAR training exercises and actual events (such as the World Trade Center and Hurricane Charley) for use by researchers.