Capstone project showcased as one of 100 innovations at Prototypes for Humanity
The Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity is an annual international programme that supports and enables top academic innovations with real-world impact for humanity. More than 2,700 applications from leading universities globally were submitted for its 10th anniversary showcase which was held from 18 to 21 November 2024.
An SUTD undergraduate Capstone project, Multi-Agent Search and Rescue Drones (MASNRD), is one of 100 projects shortlisted for the showcase. These top innovations were selected for demonstrating the highest potential to solve global issues, with impact at their core and backed by rigorous academic research.
Search and rescue operations in disaster scenarios are extremely challenging given limited information, limited line-of-sight to victims, poor lighting as well as limited time for rescue. The Capstone project team developed MASNRD, a human-drone collaboration framework designed to locate victims in urban natural disasters using mobile device signals.
Drones equipped with radio frequency (RF) sensors detect Wi-Fi signals from trapped survivors, even through obstacles like concrete. MASNRD’s hierarchical planning algorithm assigns drones to search regions based on signal clustering, ensuring efficient coverage. The system features an intuitive user interface for real-time adjustments, enabling fast, scalable, and accurate victim detection, with a demonstrated 99.7% success rate in testing.
The Capstone team (graduating class of 2024) comprises:
- Ivan Feng Jun Kai (CSD)
- Lee Wai Shun (CSD)
- Ryan Toh (CSD)
- Tran Nguyen Bao Long (CSD)
- Muhammad Danial Bin Adil Choo (EPD)
- Naurana Badalge Axel (EPD)
- Muhammad Qawiyyul Ameen B N H (EPD)
Find out more: MASNRD project details