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New Firefighter Robot May Help Save Lives
The Hoya Robot
CNET via YellowBrix
October 08, 2009
SOUTH KOREA – South Korea’s Hoya Robot is developing a mini firefighter helper bot that can enter burning buildings to conduct reconnaissance and check for people.
The Firefighters Assistant Robot can apparently operate for up to 30 minutes in fires, and can withstand temperatures up to 320 F. It can also survive falls of more than 6 feet. It’s water-resistant, as seen in this experiment video.
It may look like a tank up close, but the bot can nearly fit in the palm of your hand and weighs only 3 pounds.The remote-controlled rover can scoot into a blaze and transmit image, sound, temperature, smoke, and gas data to firefighters up to 54 yards away. Firemen can decide on a course of action based on the findings.
Onboard lights below the fire-bot’s camera help illuminate its path amid smoke and darkness. It can travel about 1 foot per second.
The robot is the first of its kind in Korea, and it took two years to develop with financial assistance from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. About 50 fire stations in Korea are set to receive 100 units for testing.
Hoya plans to show off the Firefighters Assistance Robot at the International Robot Exhibition 2009 (iRex) in Tokyo in November.
Firedude1219
26 days ago
108 comments
Dude that thing is cool. I want one
FFJohnAllen
about 1 month ago
138 comments
would be nice if it could actually squirt some water on that chair instead of staring at it
soakinwet
about 1 month ago
200 comments
Not going to last long since it can only withstand temps. up to 350 degrees! I guess it would be fine if the fire dept. was already on scene like the picture shows! LOL We men/women are often sent into temps. over 800 degrees to do searches, by that time how is this little bot going to drag out a victim?
Esco951
about 1 month ago
22 comments
Don't send a robot to a man's job. What's next.... Robocop.
fire852
about 1 month ago
188 comments
Great another tripping hazard. Something else to look out for........
Save_them_all_87
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Its just like the ARMY's reconoissance robots, it would be nice if it could open doors to check for flashouts or backdrafts.
talisaqc
about 1 month ago
386 comments
I agree with TSPOON.
It's really cool but not very practical.
It's great and all that it can collect data -- just like a rover on Mars;
but when firefighters arrive on scene and I need help? The last thing I want to know is that instead of taking immediate action, firemen were waiting to see what a rover found -- particularly when firemen are faster.
TSPOON
about 1 month ago
232 comments
ummm...pretty cool but seems like it only would be effective in near perfect situations..i mean I see it being difficult to manuver over large obstacles,all the trash and debri that can be in a fire, i predict a bunch of these getting lost in a structure,crushed and burnt up...I kinda see where it can help..but not really feel'n it