US Navy Introduces Firefighting Robot

US Navy Introduces Firefighting Robot

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Feb 06, 2015

Standing at 5’10” tall and weighing in at 143 pounds is SAFFiR (Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot), the US Navy’s firefighting humanoid, complete with infrared stereovision sensors, a rotating laser that allows it to see through dense smoke and a drone as a partner. Sounds a little like R2D2 and C3PO to me!

Developed by researchers at Virginia Tech, SAFFiR is unable to stand without a tether but can take measures steps while handling and operating a fire hose. (It must have amazing balance since water shoots out of a fire hose at such a high rate of speed that fire hoses have been used to knock people down during riots.) These movements, at this time, however, are human controlled.

SAFFiR’s drone partner, Damage Control Technologies, is a quadcopter, DC-21 with infrared sensors and cameras to detect fire and map out topography around the fire. DC-21 then communicates this data to SAFFiR.

By using the robot and drone, Thomas McKenna from the Office of Naval Research program manager identified the long-term goal is to keep sailors out of direct exposure to fire. The ultimate goal is for SAFFiR to work together with Navy officers as human-robot teams. McKenna identifies these teams as the “hybrid force, humans and robots working together.”

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Choosing the Right Solution

    Today, there is a strong shift from on-prem installations to cloud or hybrid-cloud deployments. As reported in the 2024 Genetec State of Physical Security report, 66% of end users said they will move to managing or storing more physical security in the cloud over the next two years. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3