Hartmut Surmann, Kevin Daun, Marius Schnaubelt, Oskar von Stryk, Manuel Patchou, Stefan Böcker, Christian Wietfeld, Jan Quenzel, Daniel Schleich, Sven Behnke, Robert Grafe, Nils Heidemann, Dominik Slomma, Ivana Kruijff‐Korbayová

• Abstract Earthquakes, fire, and floods often cause structural collapses of buildings. However, the inspection of such damaged buildings poses a high risk for emergency forces or is even impossible. We present three recently selected missions of the Robotics Task Force of the German Rescue Robotics Center (DRZ), where both ground and aerial robots were used to explore destroyed buildings. We describe and reflect the missions as well as the lessons learned that have resulted from them. To make robots from research laboratories fit for real operations, realistic outdoor and indoor test environments were set up at the DRZ and used for tests in regular exercises by researchers and emergency forces. On the basis of this experience, the robots and their control software were significantly improved. Furthermore, expert teams of researchers and first responders were formed, each with realistic assessments of the operational and practical suitability of robotic systems.