SXSW’S INTERACTIVE ZOO: “DISASTER ZONE” ROBOTS

Robot Petting Zoo at SXSW Educates Kids and Adults on the Value of New Technologies in Disaster Relief

South by Southwest (SXSW) once again set the scene for everything film, music and interactive media. TechCrunch shared one video this year that caught our eye, it covered the use of drones and other tech to provide relief for people in disaster situations. Desi Matel-Anderson, CEO of disaster relief organisation Field Innovation team presented a selection of the kind of robots and tools that were on display at SXSW’s Robot Petting Zoo, from a quadcopter that was used to produce a 3D printed topographical map after the devastating 2014 Oso mudslides to a quadrotor UAV that is also a 3D printer.

Matel-Andrson also spoke about the Exo emergency housing unit from Reaction Housing, a highly portable shelter that can be quickly transported and assembled to provide emergency housing to people left homeless after natural disasters.