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

  • Tradeshow Work Can Be Fun

    While at ISC West last week, I ran into numerous friends and associates all of which was a pleasant experience. The first question always seemed to be, “How many does this make for you?” Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • New Report Says 1 in 5 SMBs Would Be Forced to Shutter After Successful Cyberattack

    Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) play a crucial role in the U.S. economy, making up 99.9% of all businesses and contributing to half of the nation's GDP. However, these vital economic growth drivers face an escalating threat—cyberattacks that could put them out of business. Read Now

  • The Yellow Brick Road

    The road to and throughout Wednesday's and Thursday's ISC West was crowded but it was amazing. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • An Inside Look From Napco at ISC West

    Get a look into the excitement at ISC West 2025 from Napco. Hear from some of their top-tech executives live from the show floor. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • Upping the Ante

    I am not a betting man in terms of cards, dice, blackjack or that wheel with the black marble racing around the circumference of a spinning wheel, but I would bet on the success of ISC West this year. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
Most   Popular

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.