Close the Valley of Death - A Deployable Sniffer Robot For Hazardous Substances

The detection of hazardous substances during emergencies is a critical yet dangerous task for first responders. Mobile sensing robots can reduce the risk. Nevertheless, field-ready deployable systems are rare. This paper presents an initiative to provide a deployable sniffer robot for hazardous substance detection. Special care is taken to ensure integration into fire service operations by providing standard operating procedures and eliminating dependency on GNSS or external communication infrastructure. Utilizing the off-the-shelf components for mobility and sensing, combined with onboard data processing, communication, and visualization, the system enables remote, real-time environmental monitoring. Initial field evaluations with Austrian firefighting units demonstrate promising results in mobility, usability, and operational effectiveness. The project aims to close the "Valley of Death" between research and real-world deployment through field-ready design, provision of training concepts, and realistic validation.