The Delhi government has inducted two state-of-the-art robots into the Delhi’s Fire Service. The remote-controlled firefighting robots will be able to navigate narrow lanes and perform tasks that would be too risky for human firefighters. These will have greater accessibility to places and will be able to douse fires in narrow streets, warehouses, basements, stairs, forests, and enter places like oil and chemical tankers and factories, the government said in a statement.
Specialised training would be given to the firefighters to operate the robots.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet, “Our government has procured remote-controlled firefighting machines. Our brave fireman can now fight fires from a maximum safe distance of upto 100 meters. This will help reduce collateral damage and save the precious lives.”
Home Minister Satyendar Jain said the remote controlled robots will prove to be major troubleshooters for the firefighters, adding that if the trial is successful, more such robots will be inducted into the fleet.
“After the induction of these robots, there will be a drastic reduction in the risk that the firefighters have to put up with. Apart from this, these robots will also be capable of releasing high water pressure at the rate of 2,400 liters per minute. This means that the robot will be able to douse fire even in places which firefighters cannot possibly access,” said Jain.
The remote controlled robot is made of material which resists fire, smoke, heat, or any other external subject. Like army tanks, it is equipped with a crawler belt at the bottom, just above the tires. This belt allows the robot to move easily into congested places and gain access to hard to reach spots.
The robot also comes with a ventilation fan which can be used to keep the machine cool. Moreover, the robot can cover an area of about 100 meters at once and is capable of dousing fire immediately.
Every robot is equipped with water pipes and is controlled using a wireless remote. The robot upon reaching the fire site can extract the smoke caused by the blaze in the building through its ventilation system. A high-resolution camera is installed in this robot as well, which is capable of showing clear pictures despite the presence of fire, smoke, and water around it.
