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Mini Robot Firefighter Navigates Burning Buildings

by Caleb Johnson on October 9, 2009 at 07:25 AM

If South Korean firefighters can't take the heat, they might send in a new mini robot instead. According to CNET News, about 100 remote-controlled robots will be sent to Korean fire stations for testing in the coming months. The Firefighters Assistant Robot, which weighs about three pounds and almost fits in your hand, can scout burning buildings when conditions may be too dangerous for humans. Able to withstand temperatures of 320 degrees and six-foot falls, the 'bot can operate for 30 minutes at a time while moving at one foot per second. It's also able to transmit image and sound, along with valuable data on temperature, smoke, and gas.

If it's successful, the Firefighters Assistant Robot could totally change the way emergency workers approach fires. After all, fighting fires is dangerous enough. This 'bot could check for trapped people, or determine if there's a gas leak in the building before fighters run into a life-threatening situation. Although not as cool looking, they do sound a lot more helpful than those dalmatians we've seen riding around in fire trucks. [From: CNET News]

Tags: danger, emergency, fire, firefighters, robot, safety, top

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