Philip Schaenman, PresidentMarie Thomas, Senior Scientist

TriData Division, System Planning CorporationArlington, VA 22201

Robotics for Reducing Robotics for Reducing Firefighter InjuriesFirefighter Injuries

IFE Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA • August 26, 2011

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Size-up

Name :510 Pacbot

Producer:iRobot

Funder:U.S. military

• Survey building interior and combustible gases• Thermal imaging • Easy maneuverability through narrow spaces• Breaching capability (expandable toolbar with

wire cutters, spade, other tools)• Advanced dexterous manipulator to pick up

small objects and turn doorknobs• Double-wall cooling system to work in high

temperatures• Real-time data

Potential Robotic Technology for Structural Fires

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Locate (find fire hot spots; find hazards)

Name of robot:FFR-1

Producer:InRobot Tech

Ltd. Funder:

Israel

• Sensors for humidity, chemicals, biological detection, and radiation

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Access (tear down walls; breach entrances; access from outside)

Name of robot:Big Dog

Producer:Boston Dynamic

Funder:U.S. military

• Carry 350 lbs. of equipment • Front and rear leg attach points for balance

and self-recovery• High intensity lighting to navigate at night

Possible Modifications: • Gait modification to carry victims • Climb stairs

Big Dog (U.S. military)

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Ventilation

Name of robot:LUF60

Funder:Austria

• Ventilate area remotely• Water beam fog with a hydraulically-driven

PPV ventilation fan• 360o high-pressure nozzles for foam

Extinguishment

Name of robot:Anna Konda

Producer:SINTEF

Funder:Norway

• 20 hydraulic joints allow movement like a snake

• Navigates tight spaces• Can travel alongside firefighter or be steered

remotely• Has hydraulic cylinders to deliver water with

up to 1450 PSI (but low capacity)

Anna Konda (Norway)

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Search

Name of robot:Firefighters Assistance Robot

Producer:Hoya Robot Co.

Funder:South Korea

• Transmit environmental data back to user • Fits in palm of hand, weighs 3 lbs. • Remote collection of image, sound,

temperature, smoke, and gas data to help locate victims

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Rescue (house, building, vehicle accidents)

Name of robot:HG2

Producer:Vecna Robotics

Funder:U.S. military

• Extract and carry victims• Hydraulic-based dexterous “hand” to extract

and lift victims up to 500 lbs. outdoors/indoors, up/down stairs, and in structurally unsound buildings

• Long distance carrying capacity

Possible Modification:• Sensors to ensure that victims are removed

with appropriate care

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Overhaul

Name of robot:Dirt Dog

Producer:iRobot

Funder:U.S.

• Low-cost, commercially-available robot picks up light or heavy debris using powerful high-speed brushes

• 13.5” diameter, 3.5” thick, and 6.5 lbs. • “Smart Technology” to navigate around

obstacles and focus on dirty areas • Newest model in the Roomba series which

vacuums floor area for dust and ash Possible Modification:• Capability to haul away large-sized debris

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Size-up

Name of robot:Talon

Producer:Quinetiq

Funder:U.K.

• Rapidly transport large amounts of water and equipment

• Four color cameras: standard, night vision, thermal, and zoom option

• Lift heavy payloads such as equipment, water, and foam

• Transport equipment over large distances rapidly

• Long battery life

Robotic Technology for Wildfires

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Locate

Name of robot:Predator UAV

Producer:General Atomics

Funder:U.S.

• Locate fire sources• Can fly 22,000 feet over forest fire• Real-time data processing (satellite data link

system)• Geo-registered image for rapid mapping • Two color video cameras and forward-looking

infrared (FLIR) camera, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to detect hot spots through smoke and haze

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Contain (firebreak, clear brush)

Name of robot:Logging Harvester

Producer:NE Forestry University

Funder:China

• Remove dead wood and clear brush • Mechanical arm and a felling head that has

clipping claws, two driving rolls, two measuring rolls, delimbing knives, chain saw to remove brush and create firebreak

• Flexible felling head with 10 degrees of freedom to remove all types of brush- manipulator rotation, inner boom rising and falling, outerboom extending and retracting, felling head pitching, felling head rotation, clipping claws opening and closing, driving roll rotation opening and closing, chain saw cutting and swinging

• Can remove dead wood that has a diameter of up to 30cm and remove brush from 4 -10.5m around itself

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Search

Name of robot:CRASAR

Producer:University of FL

Funder:U.S.

• Locates victims that are inaccessible or difficult to see

• “Mother” robot can deploy “baby” robots to expand search and access hidden areas

• Omnidirectional and IR cameras (thermal and imaging) for locating victim

• Two-way audio for rescue worker located remotely to communicate with victim

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Rescue

Name of robot:M2

Producer:Sandia National Labs

Funder:U.S. military

• Extracts victims with manipulator arm• 5-foot, 600-lb. robot rolls on treads around

obstacles• Tethered with control of arms that extend 6

meters out and lifts 8 meters high• Capability to use tools such as pipe shears,

saw, wrench, plasma torch, water jet • Dexterous to reach into awkward places and

apply force to drills and screwdrivers• Auditory and 20-camera visual capabilitiesPossible Modifications:• Optimize to extract victims instead of

dismantling bombs• Change remote deployment tools to rescue-

based hand tools• Reduction of weight for mobility

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Extinguish

Name of robot:RMP400

Producer:Segway Robotics

Funder:Israel

• Four-wheeled, 240 lbs. robotic platform originally designed for riot crowd control

• Rapid speed (travels 18 mph)• Water cannon fires 10 gps• Can removes rubble to create firebreaks

Name/Producer/Funder Description

Mop-up

Name of robot:OLE

Producer:University of Magdeburg-Stendal

Funder:Germany

• Locate hot spots• Fire-resistant ceramic-fiber coating that can

withstand up to1850oF• Speed of 10-20 kph and equipped with GPS • Visual and auditory capabilities so user

controller can observe pockets of fire• Disperses water and foam• Infrared and heat biosensors to detect fire

sources

Time for IFE to play more active role in

development of robotics for the fire service?

For Copy of ArticleFor Copy of Article

Contact Philip Schaenman at:pschaenman@sysplan.com

or (703) 351-8300

or go towww.fireengineering.com

and search for

Robotics for Reducing Firefighter Injuries