The SYNERGISE project has successfully completed its fourth Component Field Test (CFT4), an important step toward improving the safety, coordination, and effectiveness of first responders in complex disaster environments.

The CFT4 was held from 27 to 29 November at the training facility in Wangen an der Aare, Switzerland and was organised by ETH Zürich. Around 70 participants from 15 countries joined the five-day event, with First Responders from CNBOP (Poland), THW (Germany), HRTA (Greece), SBFF (Sweden), technical partners from ASTRIAL, CERTH, ETH Zürich, ETRI, NTNU, SATWAYS, SYSNAV, TNO, TOHOKU, VIRNECT, WEARING as well as Advisory Board members (Canada, Netherlands, UK, USA).

The test scenarios replicated challenging emergency settings, including surface and underground search and rescue operations following buildings/infrastructures collapse or fire. The following components were tested:

• ANYmal and SNAKE robots for autonomous navigation and victim detection.
• Indoor drone OWL for mapping and aerial surveillance in confined spaces.
• Health and environmental wearables for real-time monitoring of responder wellbeing.
• Field communication and localisation devices to ensure secure connectivity.
• Information management systems linking field teams with command centres via live videoconferencing and data dashboards.

These tools were assessed for interoperability, usability, and resilience, with first responders providing direct feedback to guide the next development phases. The test also reflected the project’s commitment to ethical human-machine teaming and the safe integration of robotics and AI in field operations

Next Steps
Insights from CFT4 will inform preparations for the first System Field Test (SFT1), scheduled for 2026, where all technologies will be fully integrated and evaluated together in complex, multi-hazard scenarios. The ultimate goal is to ensure that SYNERGISE solutions are ready for deployment in real emergencies, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of first responders worldwide.

More information:

– CFT4 Official Video

– News article from Berner Zeitung from Tamedia Group (In German)

– News article from RTS – the Swiss public radio and TV media from the French part of Switzerland (in French)

– News article from SRF, the Swiss public radio and TV media from the German part of Switzerland (in German)

– Official press release/invitation

The first Component Field test (CFT1) of the SYNERGISE project, held in Athens, Greece, from November 19–21, 2024, marked a significant milestone in advancing disaster response technologies. This event brought together first responders, technical partners and observers to evaluate and refine the SYNERGISE technologies solutions designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and coordination in disaster response scenarios such as explosion that can cause large scale damage to infrastructure and society.

CFT1, like all field tests in the SYNERGISE project, followed master scenarios and use cases defined in the project. For this test, scenarios drew inspiration from the devastating explosion in a port in Lebanon in 2020 and focused on use cases about Rapid search and rescue of a collapsed building and Full search and rescue of heavily trapped survivors.

These scenarios provided a robust framework for evaluating SYNERGISE technologies under realistic and demanding conditions. First responders deployed the technologies in simulated operational environments to gather critical data, providing technical partners with valuable insights to guide future development and refinement.

The testing was overseen by Steve Gadsdon, the Project Advisory Board’s CFT1 director, who ensured the evaluations were conducted effectively and aligned with the project’s objectives.

First responders from key organizations—including Hellenic Rescue Team of Attica (HRTA), Södertörn Fire Brigade (SBFF), Gezamenlijke Brandweer (GB) and German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) — actively participated in the field test. They tested the prototypes directly in the field, ensuring that the technologies were evaluated under realistic conditions.

Their hands-on involvement provided valuable operational insights to guide further development and refinement by the technical partners.

Technologies under evaluation included:

• Localization devices (by SYSNAV): Advanced systems for tracking and positioning in challenging environments to locate the exact position of the first responders involved in rescue missions
• Health sensors and wearables (by Wearin’): Innovative tools for monitoring responder well-being to measure the vitals of the first responders
• Field communication tools (by ETRI): Private 5G networks designed for high-stress scenarios to ensure robust and independent communication.
• Satellite wireless communication systems (by ASTRIAL): Enabling connectivity in remote or disrupted areas to enhance the communication networks.

Notably, members of the SYNERGISE Project Advisory Board attended the test as observers, offering expert feedback and insights. To further strengthen international collaboration, a delegation from Iraq, the Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC)  & Kurdistan Civil Defense, also participated as observers. The observers involvement was pivotal, providing crucial feedback to enhance the development of the technologies.

The trials effectively demonstrated the potential of SYNERGISE technologies to support first responders in real-world disaster scenarios, highlighting their practical application and benefits.

This milestone underscores SYNERGISE’s dedication to innovation and international collaboration in disaster management. The success of CFT1 sets the stage for the remaining three CFTs and highlights the project’s drive to achieve its ambitious goals.

The second Component Field Test of the SYNERGISE project, held in Warsaw, Poland, from March 31 to April 4, 2025, was a critical step forward in testing and validating technologies developed to support first responders in disaster situations. This hands-on field test brought together first responder teams, technology developers, and project observers to assess how SYNERGISE solutions perform in realistic, high-pressure scenarios involving chemical hazards and urban disaster response.

As with all SYNERGISE field tests, CFT2 was based on master scenarios and use cases developed within the project. In this case, the scenario focused on a chemical explosion in a warehouse leading to a complex urban search and rescue situation, with a specific emphasis on hazardous material exposure, area mapping, and the search for trapped or injured victims.

This structured scenario enabled the SYNERGISE partners to test and evaluate their technologies in lifelike operational conditions. First responders carried out missions using the tools and systems in real time, providing feedback and data that are essential to the refinement and further development of the technologies.

The testing activities were overseen by Steve Gadsdon, Director for Field Testing from the Project Advisory Board, who ensured that all operations aligned with the project’s testing protocols and overarching goals.

Participating first responder organizations included:

• Hellenic Rescue Team of Attica (HRTA)

• Södertörn Fire Brigade (SBFF)

• Gezamenlijke Brandweer (GB)

• German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)

Their active engagement was essential for evaluating the usability, functionality, and effectiveness of the systems under development. Testing technologies in this complex environment allowed first responders to experience how these tools would perform in the field, and their feedback continues to play a key role in shaping the final solutions.

Technologies evaluated during CFT2 included:

• Drone-based mapping and sensing (by NTNU): Used to assess damage, map hazardous zones, and support real-time situational awareness.

• Wearable health and safety sensors (by Wearin’): Designed to monitor first responder vitals and stress levels in high-risk environments.

• Localization devices (by SYSNAV): Advanced positioning systems for precise tracking of personnel operating in difficult or GPS-denied environments.

• Wireless satellite communication (by ASTRIAL): Ensuring connectivity even in disrupted areas for seamless coordination and communication across teams.

• Command and Control system (by ASTRIAL): Integrating input from field technologies to support decision-making and coordination from a central hub.

Observers from the SYNERGISE Project Advisory Board attended CFT2, providing critical expert input. A notable presence included representatives from the Iraqi Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC) & Kurdistan Civil Defense, continuing the tradition of international collaboration established in CFT1.

The trials reinforced the potential of SYNERGISE to transform disaster response operations through technological integration. The field test outcomes have already begun informing refinements and upgrades to ensure the systems meet the real needs of end users.

CFT2 once again highlights SYNERGISE’s commitment to innovation, co-development with first responders, and international partnership in advancing disaster resilience. The success of the Warsaw test sets the stage for the next two Component Field Tests in Sweden and Switzerland.

The SYNERGISE project has successfully completed its fourth Component Field Test (CFT4), an important step toward improving the safety, coordination, and effectiveness of first responders in complex disaster environments.

The CFT4 was held from 27 to 29 November at the training facility in Wangen an der Aare, Switzerland and was organised by ETH Zürich. Around 70 participants from 15 countries joined the five-day event, with First Responders from CNBOP (Poland), THW (Germany), HRTA (Greece), SBFF (Sweden), technical partners from ASTRIAL, CERTH, ETH Zürich, ETRI, NTNU, SATWAYS, SYSNAV, TNO, TOHOKU, VIRNECT, WEARING as well as Advisory Board members (Canada, Netherlands, UK, USA).

The test scenarios replicated challenging emergency settings, including surface and underground search and rescue operations following buildings/infrastructures collapse or fire. The following components were tested:

• ANYmal and SNAKE robots for autonomous navigation and victim detection.
• Indoor drone OWL for mapping and aerial surveillance in confined spaces.
• Health and environmental wearables for real-time monitoring of responder wellbeing.
• Field communication and localisation devices to ensure secure connectivity.
• Information management systems linking field teams with command centres via live videoconferencing and data dashboards.

These tools were assessed for interoperability, usability, and resilience, with first responders providing direct feedback to guide the next development phases. The test also reflected the project’s commitment to ethical human-machine teaming and the safe integration of robotics and AI in field operations

Next Steps
Insights from CFT4 will inform preparations for the first System Field Test (SFT1), scheduled for 2026, where all technologies will be fully integrated and evaluated together in complex, multi-hazard scenarios. The ultimate goal is to ensure that SYNERGISE solutions are ready for deployment in real emergencies, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of first responders worldwide.

More information:

– CFT4 Official Video

– News article from Berner Zeitung from Tamedia Group (In German)

– News article from RTS – the Swiss public radio and TV media from the French part of Switzerland (in French)

– News article from SRF, the Swiss public radio and TV media from the German part of Switzerland (in German)

– Official press release/invitation