The US Navy and Virginia Tech engineers have been working on a robotic firefighter to help battle fires on board ships at sea. The new robot is called Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (or SAFFiR).
SAFFiR is 1.77 m tall, weighs 63.5 kg and has the ability to walk on different types of terrain while accurately analysing where it’s going, even while carrying a payload. SAFFiR utilizes infrared sensors, LIDAR, and light detection technology.
Designers say the robot is able to withstand temperatures better than humans.
Every compartment and passageway on a ship is designed for human occupation and mobility. There are numerous barriers, like sills, that would block a wheeled robot. In addition, a humanoid robot can use firefighting gear designed for humans, such as protective coats, backpack fire suppressants, hand-held sensors and hose nozzles, said Dr Thomas McKenna, ONR program manager for human-robot interaction and cognitive neuroscience.
SAFFiR won’t replace firefighters in the near future, but could help in dramatically reducing fatalities and provide better analysis in real fire scenarios.
