Researchers at Qazvin Islamic Azad University have developed a firefighter robot that can withstand temperatures as high as 1,000º Celsius.
The use of robotic systems in firefighting is being increasingly studied as firefighters are routinely exposed to danger.
The robot can climb uneven surfaces and has a rotating fire hose nozzle. If disconnected from the operator, it is programmed to return to its operational starting point, reported ICTNA.
Mohammad Moshfeqi, the designer of the robot in the Center for Mechatronics Research at the Qazvin university, says they started the project 18 months ago and it took several months to conduct technical research and choose the appropriate raw material.
“The firefighter robot has a water tanker and can enter fire… The metal and fibers used in the robot ensure that flames will cause no damage.”
According to the producer, the calamity concerning the Plasco Building in January 2016, which led to the tragic death of firefighters trying to salvage the building from a fierce blaze, prompted the production of the firefighter robot.
The 17-storey Plasco commercial tower on Jomhouri Street, Iran’s oldest high-rise and an iconic structure in downtown Tehran, built in 1962, caught fire on January 19, 2016 and was completely destroyed.
In the incident, sparked by an electrical short circuit, 16 firefighters and four civilians lost their lives.
Developers are of the opinion that in addition to protecting lives of firefighters, the robot is a cost-effective product and can draw investment especially from insurance companies looking to save money.
Researchers unveiled the firefighter robot on the first day of the 13th annual RoboCup Iran Open competitions held at Tehran International Exhibition Center from April 3 to 7.
