Firefighting Robot

Description

A firefighting robot is an intelligent device specially designed for high-risk scenarios. It can fully replace firefighters in entering hazardous environments such as fire scenes with risks of explosion, toxic gas leakage, oxygen deficiency, or heavy smoke to perform fire suppression tasks.

Its core advantages lie in its highly integrated environmental perception system (infrared thermal imaging, gas sensors, and LiDAR), enabling precise localization of fire sources. Combined with a tracked chassis driven by high-power DC geared motors, it ensures stable movement across complex terrains (slopes, stairs, and rubble piles). The robot can easily overcome obstacles, guaranteeing mobility and safety in emergency situations.

This type of robot addresses the challenges of traditional firefighters, including direct exposure to life-threatening risks in hazardous environments, slow response times, and low fire suppression efficiency. It is widely used in high-risk locations such as chemical plants, oil depots, tunnels, underground utility corridors, nuclear power stations, and high-rise buildings, especially in scenarios involving petrochemical fires, explosions in enclosed spaces, or high-temperature and smoke-filled environments.

Firefighting robots come with various types of chassis designs: tracked chassis, wheeled chassis, hybrid chassis, and legged/bionic configurations chassis. Among these, tracked chassis offer the strongest terrain adaptability and are most commonly used in firefighting robots. Their core advantage lies in their large contact area and low ground pressure, which allow stable movement in extreme environments.

Core Functional Requirements

Environmental Perception

Multi-Sensor Fusion: Integrates infrared thermal cameras (to detect heat sources through smoke), LiDAR (for spatial mapping), smoke/gas sensors (to identify flammable gas leaks), and visual cameras (for flame shape recognition). This enables fire detection and environmental awareness in all weather conditions and terrains.

Autonomous Navigation and Terrain Adaptability

SLAM Navigation Technology: Uses Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) to build maps in real time and locate the robot within unknown or chaotic environments, enabling obstacle avoidance and autonomous path planning.

All-terrain mobile design: Tracked or mixed wheel-track chassis paired with high-power DC reduction motors, capable of crossing 30 cm high steps, 60° slopes, and 50 cm wide ditches, adapting to obstacles such as mud, gravel piles, and rubble, and demonstrating strong adaptability to complex conditions such as high temperatures, standing water, and sloped surfaces.

Interference-Resistant Communication

Supports 5G/Wi-Fi 6 remote control, maintaining stable communication even in environments with electromagnetic interference or weak signals.

Diverse Fire Extinguishing Media

High-Pressure Water/Foam System: Capable of long-range fire suppression (with a range over 50 meters), effectively penetrating the core area of the fire.

Dry Powder/Carbon Dioxide Discharge: Suitable for electrical fires or environments with sensitive equipment, quickly cutting off oxygen supply to suppress flames.

Physical Intervention Devices: Robotic arms can remove flammable materials, close valves, or break through obstacles to enhance firefighting effectiveness.

Extreme Environment Tolerance

High-Temperature Resistance: The robot’s exterior is made of heat-resistant materials (e.g., ceramic coatings), and its internal cooling system allows continuous operation for several hours in environments exceeding 500°C.

Explosion-Proof Design: Features sealed, explosion-proof electronic compartments and anti-static structures to prevent secondary explosions.

Water and Dust Protection: Rated at IP67 or higher, it can operate reliably in conditions involving water immersion, dust, and other harsh environments.

Remote Control Capability

Remote Operation Mode: Firefighters can monitor the robot's status in real time (such as remaining battery life and extinguishing agent levels) via handheld devices or command vehicles. They can adjust strategies on the fly and switch to manual control mode when necessary.

Tank Fire in Chemical Plants

Challenges:
Risk of flammable and explosive gas leaks (e.g., methane, hydrogen), making it dangerous for human firefighters to approach.
Rapid fire spread requires quick identification of the leak source and immediate fuel cutoff.
Solutions:
Tracked Chassis: Explosion-proof tracks (IP68 protection rating) combined with high-power DC motors (over 500W), equipped with dry powder or foam fire suppression modules.
Intelligent Sensing System: Multi-gas sensors (detect CH₄ and H₂S concentrations), along with infrared thermal imaging (locate heat sources through thick smoke).
Robotic Arm: Fitted with demolition tools and valve-closing devices for remotely shutting off leaking pipelines and preventing secondary explosions.
Case:
Thermite RS2-HD (USA): During the fire at a refinery in Louisiana, the robot navigated oil-contaminated terrain, discharged dry powder to extinguish the tank fire, and used its robotic arm to close the leaking valve to prevente a secondary explosion.
Electrical Fires in Data Centers

Challenges:
High-density server racks can release toxic gases when burned, requiring rapid suppression without water to prevent equipment damage.
Narrow aisles restrict the use of large firefighting equipment.
Solutions:
Hybrid Wheel-Track Chassis: Low-center-of-gravity design suitable for anti-static flooring (obstacle height ≤10cm).
Fire Suppression Module:
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) fire extinguishing system that suppresses flames using inert gas, leaving no residue and minimizing damage to sensitive electronics.
Navigation System: SLAM technology builds a 3D map of the server room, enabling autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Case:
"Zhixiao" Firefighting Robot (China): During a fire at a cloud data center in Shenzhen, the robot entered the server room through an air vent and released CO₂ to extinguish the fire. The entire operation was completed without causing any hardware damage to the servers.
High-Rise Building Facade Fires

Challenges:
Fire spreads rapidly along the exterior walls, often beyond the reach of fire truck ladders in high-rise buildings.
Thick smoke hinders internal evacuation and reduces visibility for rescue operations.
Solutions:
Tracked Chassis: Equipped with high-torque motors (climbing slopes ≥45°) and a high-pressure water cannon module (range ≥80 meters) for effective suppression of upper-level facade fires.
Remote Control: 5G communication enables operation from up to 1 km away, with real-time transmission of thermal imaging data for situational awareness.
Smoke Extraction Coordination: Integrated smoke extraction fan module helps reduce smoke density and improve air quality during firefighting and evacuation.
Case:
Colossus Robot (France): During the fire at the Torch Tower in Dubai, the Colossus robot climbed to the 30th floor via emergency staircases and used its high-pressure water cannon to precisely extinguish the facade fire, assisting firefighters in safely evacuating occupants.
Subway Tunnel Train Fires

Challenges:
High temperatures and thick smoke accumulate in the confined tunnel space, limiting escape routes.
Traditional firefighting equipment struggles to reach the fire source quickly and safely.
Solutions:
Tracked Chassis: Smoke-proof sealed design (IP67 rating) combined with an internal cooling system (continuous operation for over 2 hours in extreme conditions).
Fire Suppression Module: Fine water mist system effectively reduces temperature and suppresses oxygen, helping to control the fire without causing major water damage.
Navigation System: LiDAR builds a 3D model of the tunnel environment, enabling the robot to autonomously navigate and follow train tracks toward the fire source.
Case:
TMSUK R-One (Japan): During a subway tunnel fire in Tokyo, the TMSUK R-One robot successfully traversed a 200-meter smoke-filled section, deployed its fine water mist system to control the flames, and helped buy critical time for passenger evacuation.
Forest and Grassland Fires

Challenges:
Fire lines spread rapidly, making manual firefighting efforts inefficient and dangerous.
Complex terrain such as shrubs and mountainous areas limits access for conventional vehicles.
Solutions:
Tracked Chassis: Features wide tracks (ground pressure ≤20kPa) and anti-entanglement design to prevent blockage from vegetation, enabling mobility in rough and overgrown terrain.
Fire Suppression Module: Equipped with a water tank and fire retardant spraying system (covering area ≥50㎡ per application).
Collaborative System: Drones are used to locate fire lines and guide the robots, while robotic teams work in clusters to suppress flames in designated zones.
Case:
In the California wildfires, Howe & Howe Thermite TF-5 robots from the United States entered the fireline to spray fire retardants, working with drones to establish firebreaks and reducing the area burned by 30%.
Ship Engine Room Fires

Challenges:
Fires in enclosed engine rooms pose extreme risks due to high temperatures, oxygen deficiency, and limited escape routes.
Narrow compartments filled with cables and oil pipes require precise fire suppression.
Solutions:
Tracked Chassis: Constructed with anti-salt-fog materials (withstanding water pressure at depths of ≥10 meters) and designed with compact dimensions (width ≤0.8m) for navigating tight ship corridors.
Fire Suppression Module: Inert gas fire suppression system (e.g., nitrogen) that extinguishes flames without damaging sensitive equipment.
Navigation System: Combines inertial navigation with magnetic field positioning, enabling accurate movement even in GPS-denied environments such as ship interiors.
Case:
Hyundai Rotem MarineBot (South Korea): During a fire on a cargo ship at Busan Port, the MarineBot entered the engine room and deployed a nitrogen-based fire suppression system to extinguish the flames. The operation successfully prevented water damage that could have led to the vessel sinking.

Accessories

Tracked Chassis: The tracked chassis is a core component that enables firefighting robots to operate safely in high-risk environments. Its technical value lies in its adaptability to complex terrains, resistance to extreme conditions, and support for multi-functional expansion. By integrating a tracked design with modular interfaces and an intelligent control system, the chassis ensures stable movement while providing a platform for fire suppression, reconnaissance, and rescue missions.

High-Strength Composite Materials: Constructed using heat-resistant rubber (withstanding temperatures above 300°C) or hybrid metal-rubber tracks (e.g., steel-shod tracks), these materials enhance wear resistance and tear resistance. They are ideal for use in chemical plants, oil depots, tunnels, and rubble rescue scenarios.

Modular Swapping Capability: Tracks can be quickly removed and replaced with specialized versions tailored for different terrain types (such as spiked tracks for snow, wide tracks for sand or mud, or buoyant tracks for oily surfaces) ensuring optimal mobility in diverse environments.

Drive system: Provides high torque output (e.g., 500W or above), supports continuous climbing (incline angle ≥45°) and obstacle crossing (step height ≥30cm), mainly used in heavy-duty firefighting robots and complex terrain operations. (IP67 protection rating, built-in overload protection, supports dual-side independent differential steering.)

Hybrid Power System: Combines a lithium battery with a backup fuel generator to extend operational endurance. This configuration is especially suitable for long-duration fire suppression operations and deployment in remote areas.

SLAM Navigation Kit: Integrates LiDAR, IMU, and visual sensors to enable autonomous mapping and localization. It performs reliably in smoke-filled environments and complex indoor structures, supporting accurate navigation where visibility is limited.

Robotic Arm: Supports customized tool extensions (such as demolition hammers and claws), mainly used for removing flammable materials, cutting fuel lines, and demolishing obstacles.

Tracked Chassis

SLAM Navigation Kit

The SLAM navigation kit integrates SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology, which is mainly used to enable autonomous localization, mapping, and path planning functions for robot chassis in unknown environments. ‌