The investigation of an agile mobile quadruped robot in forensic death scenes

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has accelerated the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) into workplaces, creating opportunities to merge technology with real-world practice. In forensic pathology, workforce shortages and the dangers of investigating hazardous death scenes highlight the need for innovation. This study explored the use of a mobile, agile quadruped robot to investigate hanging death scenes, assessing its ability to navigate, capture evidence, and reduce human risk. The research focused on low-risk hanging death scenes as a starting point, with the aim of later extending to more hazardous environments such as chemical-related scenes, fire deaths, and mass disasters. The quadruped robot demonstrated advanced mobility, allowing routine inspection tasks and the collection of visual and environmental data with accuracy, safety, and frequency. The study reviewed existing literature on robotic applications in forensic investigations, developed an initial procedure for scene evaluation, and tested the approach on selected hanging cases. The findings discuss advantages, limitations, and lessons learned, offering insight into the potential role of robotics in forensic death scene work. While promising, technical and operational challenges remain before robotics can be fully integrated into routine forensic practice.