ETH Zurich develops ANYmal quadruped robot for extreme rescue environments

The ANYmal quadruped robot, developed by the Robotic Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, is being utilized for research into rescue robotics in extreme environments. Designed to navigate terrains where wheeled vehicles struggle, the robot uses cameras, LiDAR, and force sensors in its legs to move autonomously through complex settings.

While there is no official evidence of a specific new prototype designed solely for entering glacial crevasses to find trapped individuals, the ANYmal platform has been documented in testing across snow, ice, mountain terrain, debris, and underground environments. Its articulated legs allow it to independently place each limb, providing the stability and range of motion necessary to overcome obstacles and irregular surfaces in high-risk disaster zones.