Robotic fireman aims to extinguish shipboard fires

Citation

(2012), "Robotic fireman aims to extinguish shipboard fires", Industrial Robot, Vol. 39 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2012.04939eaa.004

Robotic fireman aims to extinguish shipboard fires

Article Type: Mini features From: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 39, Issue 5

Shipboard fires are dangerous for a number of reasons; close quarters, large quantities of onboard flammable fuel and even munitions ready to explode. Shipboard fires frequently result in serious and excessive damage as well as loss of use of the ship when fires are not detected and controlled quickly. Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory are teaming up with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Pennsylvania to develop a walking robotic fireman to replace total dependence on human firemen.

The human-like robot is well suited to address fighting fires on board ship. The passageways onboard are best suited to humans and not well suited to other mechanical system configurations. Deployment of a robotic fireman will help reduce the serious risks to human firefighters.

Named the Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR), the robot has many human abilities. It can carry and use water hoses, foam applicators, and throw firefighting grenades as well as carry sensors to transmit images to the remote operator. Firefighting grenades, known as propelled extinguishing-agent technology (PEAT) can disperse fire suppression agents such as water, firefighting foam or a halon replacement gas being developed in parallel with the SAFFiR.

The sensors in the robotic “head” include a suite of cameras, including infrared cameras which can be tuned to see through smoke and can search out fire. There is also work under way to make the SAFFiR able to communicate with human firefighters who are also on scene. These communications skills are focused on understanding language, hand signals, gestures as well and tracking human leaders.

Figure 1 Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR), a humanoid – type robot being developed and tested for shipboard firefighting

The SAFFiR is based on the Charli-L2 robot developed at Virginia Tech. It walks, has two arms and is very human-like in design (Figure 1). The head contains the cameras and other sensors. The two arms and legs employ lightweight low friction linear actuators. The entire central skeleton is made of lightweight aluminium. The arms and “hands” are designed to handle fire hoses and other equipment as well as grip and throw PEAT grenades.

The legs have hip, knee and ankle joints with parallel actuation for good speed, torque and accuracy of movement. Six axis sensors in the foot and ankle provide feedback for safe walking on board ship. The legs also contain titanium springs better control and walking dynamics. The goal is to provide a sure footed robot that is capable of walking in all directions, balancing under all types of rough sea conditions and handling obstacles that might be in its path. Power for the SAFFiR is provided by a rechargeable battery pack in the waist region. A charge operates the SAFFiR for up to 30 minutes in firefighting situations.

The SAFFiR will be tested in real fire conditions on board a unique fire test ship, the former USS Shadwell located in the harbor at Mobile Alabama. The ship provides a test area where realistic conditions can be created to fully test the SAFFiR abilities in a carefully controlled environment. For more information on the SAFFiR please visit: www.nrl.navy.mil. For information on the Virginia Tech efforts please visit: www.romela.org/main/Robotics_and_Mechanisms_Laboratory