In the world of firefighting tech, we’ve seen all sorts of gadgets, from firefighting robots on tracks to drones to help first responders spot hot spots and disaster victims to drones that can fight highrise fires. But until recently, no one had crafted a true superhero for blazing buildings. Enter FireBot, the firefighter’s new best friend that is capable of taking on temperatures up to a scorching 650 degrees Celsius (about 1,202 Fahrenheit) 100 times longer than a firefighter in standard gear.
But the heat endurance isn’t the end of the story. FireBot can keep its cool for 60 minutes straight in a blistering 300 degrees Celsius (572 Fahrenheit) environment – that’s ten times longer than your typical firefighter while zooming around at twice the speed.
This sturdy robot rolls on dual tracks, flexing at its midsection to handle stairs, obstacles, and debris like a champ. Trust me. It does not sound like it but the articulated tracks look straight out of sci-fi movies.
Now, here’s the real kicker: FireBot can venture into fiery chaos while its operator watches from up to a mile (1.6 km) away – no direct line of sight needed. Thanks to some tech magic called MIMO, FireBot can be guided wirelessly and receive data from distances of up to 0.9 miles (1.4 km), even if there’s stuff blocking the view.
And it’s not just tough; it’s smart too. FireBot is packed with over 20 sensors, including optical and thermal imagers for day and night, radar mapping, IMU data, telemetry, temperature, humidity, smoke and fire detectors, and a whole slew of gas sensors to sniff out danger in the air that would otherwise knock out and kill a person. It runs on batteries and can go superhero mode for up to 4 hours on a single charge.
Here’s the kicker: FireBot is expected to hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a price tag of around US$90,000. So, if you’ve ever dreamt of having your very own firefighting superhero, now’s your chance. Just kidding. It is not for you and me. It is for the first responder. Now if only the fire departments have the fund…
For more details on this high-tech wonder, you can check it out right over HERE.
Images: Paradigm Robotics.
via Yahoo!
