The positioning of the portable fire pump requires four firefighters, and the deployment of a B nozzle at least two. Moreover, these activities require a lot of energy and sometimes have to be carried out in the middle of a danger zone. These two striking examples quickly show how much modern auxiliary equipment such as the multi-functional RTE Robot firefighting robot can support everyday operations.
Rosenbauer presented the petrol-powered tracked manipulator back in 2010. This meant that all the equipment for the suction point could be transported by one person over longer and more impassable distances.
Development Of The RTE Robot
Based on the positive feedback from the market, the development of the RTE Robot then began
The idea was developed further during the development of the Concept Fire Truck. The chassis was now electrically driven and remote-controlled. By intelligently separating the functions in the chassis and body module, the first Rosenbauer robot was already able to fulfill different requirements.
Based on the positive feedback from the market, the development of the RTE Robot then began. It should transport as heavy a load as possible in the standard dimensions of a Euro pallet. Two 48 V electric motors now drive the tracked vehicle in such a way that the live load of up to 675 kg can be transported at a speed of 5 km/h.
More Potential Through Unlimited Modularity
It soon became clear that the potential for the RTE Robot was much greater than simply transporting MECs (mobile equipment carriers). The ideas for further applications did not just come from the in-house development department.
A request came from Asia to implement a water turret together with a fan on the robot. The easily adaptable live load modules displayed their great strength here. The RM 15 water turret with thermal imaging and color camera and a 16″ high-performance fan were mounted on two half-modules. Thanks to the low center of gravity, slopes with an angle of up to 26° can be negotiated and the narrow width of 800 mm allows the robot to pass through doors with ease.
RTE Robot’s Tractive Force
Another application was developed by the Copenhagen Fire Department. The RTE Robot was used to remove a car from an underground car park. Towing the wrecked vehicle, which was on shunting rollers modified by the fire department, out of a garage was accomplished with the RTE Robot’s tractive force. The emergency crew only had to make sure that the vehicle rolled along the track.
The FOX 4 portable fire pump on the RTE RC Profile suction point MEC is transported to the water extraction
In complete contrast is the way the RTE Robot is used on the new large firefighting vehicle of the Wildenau Fire Department in Upper Austria. The main task there is to ensure the water supply in a resource-optimized manner. After the FOX 4 portable fire pump on the RTE RC Profile suction point MEC is transported to the water extraction point, the crew changes the MEC on the RTE Robot, and then the extinguishing line can be laid over hundreds of meters with just one crew member. In the meantime, the next enhancements to the transport system were made. A simple load support has been implemented for transporting Euro pallets, mesh boxes, or even water tanks.
Revolution In Versatility And Operational Readiness
The special thing about the RTE Robot is not only that it is so versatile and can be supplemented with additional modules at any time. It is also that each module can be exchanged in a matter of seconds in just a few simple steps.
Transporting it is just as flexible as its possible uses. From transport in a mini-van to loading in a logistics vehicle–the chassis of the RTE Robot can also be stored upright in the equipment compartment of fire trucks and quickly deployed. Whether in day-to-day operations, flood response, wildfire, or a chemical plant fire–the RTE Robot reliably accompanies the emergency crews. And by the way, it can also drive in water!
