Firefighting robots have been deployed by a couple of departments in the United States, but the full potential of the technology is just now being realized.
“As departments get more exposure to the technology, and learn more about the capabilities, they are more open to using them,” says Paul Ford, Robotics Program Manager, Howe & Howe Technologies. “They are realizing why and how they are being used, and they understand the full capabilities of the technology, not just to spray water, but to clean debris or gain access through a wall.”
Firefighting robots
Firefighting robots can be used to assist firefighters in doing their jobs while protecting them from exposure to extreme conditions. Robots are especially useful in industrial and large commercial situations, where a fire can get out of control quickly.
A robot can be deployed to spray large amounts of water onto a fire – four times as much as a single firefighter. It can therefore free up firefighters for other needs. For example, instead of needing 40 firefighters in a situation, a robot might take the place of 10 of them.
Supporting the firefighters
The robot’s movements are controlled by firefighters as they are just another tool to help them do their jobs
It is important to note that firefighting robots are not being deployed to replace firefighters, but only to assist them. It’s a critical distinction given the traditional nature of the firefighting community. “We are great robot builders, but we are not firefighters,” says Ford. “We’re building a product that supports them better.”
The robot’s movements are controlled by firefighters; in the end, they are just another tool to help them do their jobs, like an axe. In addition to assisting firefighters, robots can be used to determine the extent of a dangerous situation without putting a firefighter in harm’s way, such as in case of explosives or a possible roof collapse.
Need of robots in small fire depts.
One misconception is that firefighting robots are only needed by larger fire departments. Not true, says Ford.
“Sometimes a smaller department needs it because they are a small department,” he says. “They can bring in a unit to maintain a water curtain between a building on fire and the next building, enabling firefighters to focus on other areas. It’s like bringing extra people to a fire.”
Applications of firefighting robots
In addition to spraying water, firefighting robots can be equipped with any number of tools, including thermal cameras and other sensors.
Currently, video captured by a robot is provided only to the operator, but soon the robot will be able to share information with a command center to aid decision-making at a fire scene. A robot can help determine conditions using gas detectors and explosivity (LEL) meters.
Flexible design
Howe and Howe displayed a mobile, remotely operated robotic ballistic shield engineered for first responders
The flexibility of design enables robots to be used in a variety of situations. For example, Howe and Howe are currently working with wildland firefighters to develop a robot version for that application, adapting to different needs and limitations.
At FDIC, they displayed a mobile, remotely operated robotic ballistic shield engineered for first responders (SWAT-BOT).
Robot deployment
Currently, Howe and Howe have deployed three robots for firefighting in the United States. One is in Los Angeles, which is the longest user of the technology; another is in Fort Worth, Texas; and a third is at the Los Alamos National Lab, a U.S. government facility in New Mexico.
In the Los Angeles Department, the robot is delivered to a fire scene on a car trailer connected to the chief’s truck. It is used if the incident commander calls for it, or in the second alarm of a large fire. The robot has been deployed to 30 fires so far in the year and a half it has been operating.
The transition from diesel to electric robots
Current robots are powered by diesel engines, but Howe and Howe are on the verge of introducing an electric version, which is currently in the final testing stages.
Thermite EV2 all-electric firefighting robot
At the FDIC International show in Indianapolis in April 2022, Howe & Howe (now part of Textron) displayed the Thermite EV2 all-electric firefighting robot, operated by a software-driven controller.
It is powered by a battery pack instead of a combustible engine. It does not require oxygen for power and can extend into more high-temperature, dangerous environments.
Howe & Howe have been testing the new electric robot, which can go further inside a building, where the oxygen is being consumed by the fire, and therefore a combustion engine cannot operate.
The electric robot can also climb stairs faster because it does not have to remain 30 seconds on each landing to ensure there is sufficient oil in the oil pan to prevent internal engine damage.
Other EV and diesel-powered robots
Thermite RS1 and RS3 are diesel-powered robot bases that can be easily maneuvered through tight areas
The final product of the EV2 Thermite is being tested one last time by the Los Angeles department before it is released for sale in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The Thermite RS1 and RS3 are diesel-powered robot bases that can be easily maneuvered through tight areas and are controlled by remote belly-pack controllers. The RS3 is larger, provides more flow, and has more power.
Military applications
Technology for Howe & Howe firefighting robots “trickles down” from their work creating robots for military applications.
Therefore, the equipment designs have already been rigorously tested and can withstand abuse and daily use. A difference is that military robots are often designed to work and move autonomously, while every move of a firefighting robot is controlled by a human.