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Estonia’s Milrem Robotics developing robotic firefighters with Dutch partner
The Estonian defense industry company Milrem Robotics and the Dutch foam extinguishing system producer InnoVfoam are developing robot firefighting systems to assist or even replace firefighters in the most hostile environments, informed LETA/BNS.
The jointly developed firefighting solutions combine Milrem Robotics’ unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) Multiscope Rescue and InnoVfoam's various firefighting systems, specifically foam proportioning systems and fire monitors, Milrem Robotics said.
"In addition to fires in urban environments, there are large-scale forest and landscape fires every year that endanger the environment, the lives of inhabitants and especially firefighters. The systems we are developing with InnoVfoam can alleviate dangers firefighters face and help contain fires faster," Kuldar Vaarsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics, said.
The firefighting robots are remotely operated by firefighters who remain in a safe distance while receiving a complete overview of the operation area via various cameras, that is thermal and infrared, and sensors on board the robot that can additionally detect gas or chemical leaks.
The fire monitors can be operated independently from the UGV thanks to separate cameras on the UGV and the monitors allowing the vehicle to change position while maintaining a perfect overview of the fire. The system can also be complemented with additional preventive and repressive systems and autonomous functions.
The Multiscope Rescue has a maximum payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms and pull force of 21,000 Newtons, allowing it to be equipped with a variety of firefighting specific payloads including foam or water tanks, but also tethered drones for better situational awareness. InnoVfoam's fire monitors can dispense water and foam from 2,000 up to 20,000 liters per minute.
Robot firefighters can also deliver heavy firehoses to reach areas and enter structures that are inaccessible with bigger vehicles or may collapse on top of firefighters. In case of forest or landscape fires the robot firefighters can be airdropped to start limiting the spread of fires.