South Korea's little firefighting robots (w/ Video)

October 8, 2009 by Lin Edwards

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Hoya Robot

(PhysOrg.com) -- Two South Korean firms have developed mini firefighting robots to help human firefighters safely plan their course of action before entering a blazing building.

Hoya Robot has developed a Firefighters Assistance Robot (dubbed a Fire Spy Robot), a remote-controlled device that can reconnoiter a burning structure, transmitting images, sounds, and data on temperature, smoke, and gas to firefighters over 50 yards away. This kind of information is vital for firefighters to ensure their safety before entering a burning structure.

The little two-wheeled robot can roam through the blaze spraying water from a fire hose and looking for trapped people. Its onboard light and camera helps firefighters pin-point people before they enter the building themselves. The robot also gives them enough information to decide on the safe routes, and quickly develop a rescue plan.

The Firefighters Assistance Robot is a small device resembling a miniature tank and measuring just 12.5 cm in diameter and weighing 2 kg. It can travel at 1 foot per second and withstand a fall of over six feet. It can also survive temperatures as high as 160 C (320 F). The operating time of the robot inside a burning structure is up to 30 minutes.

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DRB Fatec firefighting helper robot. Image: Koreaittimes

Meanwhile, another company, DRB Fatec, has developed its own firefighting helper robot. Their model is larger than the Hoya Robot device, standing at 88 cm high and 85 cm wide. It is also tougher, being built for much larger fires, and is apparently able to withstand temperatures up to 500 C (920 F) for an hour or more.

It took two years to develop these mini robots, with financial aid from South Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy. The robots will be tested in fire stations in Daegu, south of Seoul in South Korea from now until November this year.

More information:
• http://www.hoyarobot.com/
• http://www.drbfatec.com/

© 2009 PhysOrg.com

• COCO - Oct 14, 2009
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  can't for the life of me figure out the benefit - the little bastards are too small to carry retardants - too little to haul a body bigger than a rat - minuturization has its place but not here - try again guys.
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• wildcatherder - Oct 18, 2009
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  It is a firefighter-assisting robot, not a "Firefighting Robot". I don't think firemen are going to be sitting outside while a tiny robot tries to map an unfamiliar building.
  
  I was also initially confused about why the robot in the last video was just watching the chair burn.
  
  It would be a handy tool for arson, though.
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