Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood shared that his mother would say, in times of crisis, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." This advice holds true when looking at the potential for artificial intelligence to change the world. People are using technological advances to create and experiment with innovative approaches to global issues that have affected humanity for generations. The plight of displaced persons, the global food crisis and natural disasters are real challenges people face every day.

This article was first published on the IEC e-tech website. Rapid advances in technology are revolutionizing the roles of aerial, terrestrial and maritime robotic systems in disaster relief, search and rescue (SAR) and salvage operations. Robots and drones can be deployed quickly in areas deemed too unsafe for humans and are used to guide rescuers, collect data, deliver essential supplies or provide communication services. The first reported use of SAR robots was to explore the wreckage beneath the collapsed twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York after the September 2001 terrorist attacks. Drones and robots have been used to survey damage after disasters such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan in 2011 and the earthquakes in Haiti (2010) and Nepal (2015).