NEW YORK: Navy unveiled a firefighting robot prototype at the Naval Future Force Science & Technology EXPO, revealing details about its successful demonstrations last fall aboard the USS Shadwell, a decommissioned Navy vessel.
“We set out to build and demonstrate a humanoid capable of mobility aboard a ship, manipulating doors and fire hoses, and equipped with sensors to see and navigate through smoke,” said Dr. Thomas McKenna with the Office of Naval Research.
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In a demonstration, Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) walked across uneven floors, used thermal imaging to identify an overheated compartment and finally employed a hose to put out the fire.
The robot was developed in collaboration with Virginia Tech.
“This robot, you’ll be able to send it into dangerous situations without having to send a sailor in there first,” explained Virginia Tech graduate assistant John Seminatore.
The Navy hopes SAFFiR will make putting out shipboard fires safer and easier.
