Sensor Enhanced Rescue Aid (SERA) Microwave Radar-Equipped Helmets for Post-Natural Disaster Search and Rescue Mission

The Philippines’ location along the Pacific Ring of Fire exposes it to frequent and destructive seismic events, often resulting in collapsed structures and entrapped victims. Traditional search and rescue methods face limitations in detecting survivors beneath debris, emphasizing the need for technological solutions that enhance speed and accuracy in post-disaster operations. This study developed and evaluated the Sensor Enhanced Rescue Aid (SERA) — a microwave radar-equipped helmet designed to assist rescuers in detecting motion through debris by utilizing the RCWL-0516 Doppler radar sensor integrated with an Arduino Nano microcontroller. An experimental design was employed to assess the helmet’s performance under varying debris conditions — open space, light debris, and thick debris. Data on detection time were collected and analyzed using simple linear regression to determine the relationship between debris thickness and response time. Results under light debris yielded the regression equation Y = 0.5659X + 5.539, with a strong positive correlation (R² = 0.9083, p < 0.0001), indicating that time increases proportionally with debris thickness. Similarly, tests under thick debris produced Y = 1.094X + 7.843 (R² = 0.8792, p < 0.0001), confirming a significant relationship between debris density and detection delay. These findings demonstrate that while radar penetration decreases with increased debris density, the SERA helmet remains highly effective in detecting motion through non-metallic materials. Overall, the system shows strong potential as a low-cost, portable, and reliable auxiliary tool for search and rescue missions, capable of enhancing response efficiency and increasing survival chances in post-earthquake scenarios.