Using Robots To Assist Firefighting

NEW TECHNOLOGY FEATURE

USING ROBOTS TO ASSIST IN FIREFIGHTING

In recent years there has been a shift toward keeping people away from hazardous situations where possible. In many countries around the world fire brigades have already implemented the use of remotecontrolled solutions (such as robots), with great success as they strive to achieve greater levels of safety. In the same way, there is still an expectation to ensure effective fire suppression even where fire crews maybe be at a reduced capacity. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it would be prudent to support emergency response teams (or individual firefighters), with equipment that can help them to do their job better and as such remotecontrolled solution can be of great assistance.

The Emergency response robots allows fire fighters to get closer than ever to the fire while remaining at a safe distance. Every emergency response team has their own needs and requirements. As a result some fire brigades may need to use an emergency response robot in industrial process areas, tunnels and storage terminals, or for terrorist incidents. Not to mention the need for their use in urban areas, and whenever firefighters need to deal with hazardous substances or extreme temperatures. A well designed unit should be protected against heat radiation with a cooling system to allow the robot to get even closer to the fire origin to suppress it with higher probability of success and without overheating itself. In this regard, the fire brigades can be better equipped to deal with fires while keeping the risks to firefighters at a minimum.

SA Fire Protection, are an Italian manufacturer of fixed firefighting systems and equipment who have developed a highly customisable emergency response unit named the “Robot-TINO” for firefighters which is designed to address all the features mentioned above in to one compact solution. In terms of manoeuvrability, the Robot-TINO gives the user complete flexibility to adjust direction (left/ right; forward/ backward) and height (up/ down movements & tilt). In addition to the high-visibility LED headlights and blinkers the Robot-TINO comes with, the unit can be fitted with cameras or sensors which can be used as a means of gathering intel when assessing the risks in inaccessible or dangerous areas, as well as assisting in search and rescue operations. Due to its robust and durable design, the RobotTINO can enable emergency responders to perform their duties better and more safely. Furthermore, this remote-controlled solution including the firefighting monitor can be installed with other accessories to allow complete operation from a remote location. Depending on what is required, it is possible to fit the Robot-TINO with a wide variety of accessories to suit the needs of the fire brigade such as monitors, dry chemicals, foam, gas detectors or Infrared camera systems. All options available can be tailored and adapted to the specific application and requirements of the Emergency Response Team.

With robotics already playing a key role in firefighting, it is the duty of manufacturers like SA Fire Protection to ensure that there are reliable solutions available to meet the needs of modern firefighters while keeping them as safe as possible.