Robot firefighters eyed for US Navy vessels

Humanoid robots may soon serve aboard United States Navy vessels as firefighters, a tech site reported this week.

 

Dubbed SAFFiR (Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot), the robots are expected to increase safety and reduce excessive ship repair costs due to fire damage.

 

"In September 2013, SAFFiR will be tested on board of the ex-USS Shadwell, a fire test ship. If SAFFiR performs well, the Navy will have new companions while navigating the high seas," tech site Mashable reported.

 

 

 

 

The robot resembles a human, and can keep balance even during rough sea conditions and control fire suppression gear, as well as climb ladders and interact with humans, it added.

 

SAFFiR will also be able to find fires and throw propelled extinguishing agent technology (PEAT) grenades to extinguish the fires, the report said.

 

Its arms are designed to carry and use fire hoses and fire extinguishers when needed.

 

Created by scientists at the University of Virginia Tech, University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, the robot even has an advanced sensor suit with a built-in stereo infrared camera and gas sensor to help it navigate through smoke, water vapor and fire.

 

The robot's battery can last up to 30 minutes, Mashable quoted the US Naval Research Laboratory as saying.

 

A separate article on CNET said the robot is still in the design phase, and is based on the Charli-L1 robot developed by Virginia Tech.— TJD, GMA News