Firefighting Robotic System Reggie Grant Director, Advanced Programs - Dallas
Mission Statement The Fire Fighting Robotic System s s Program mission is to: Provide the wild-land land Firefighters with an autonomous vehicle system that can aid them in efficiently and safely fighting fires from hauling their gear to helping them fight fires at night and utilizing the e system in places that humans currently do not go. Support first responder/all risk situations: Natural Disasters Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Bomb threats Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) Threats, etc. VISION: Develop and Provide A Civil Fire Fighting System with Near-Term Solution and Multiple Mission Equipment Packages to Meet Extensive Fire Fighter Needs
Other Systems FFR-1 1 Fire Fighting and Rescue Robot (Israeli) ARMTEC SACI Firefighting Robot (German) U.S. Air Force Unmanned Fire Tractor Robots Have Been Developed for Fire Fighting
SME Firefighting Panel Firefighting panel of Subject Matter Experts (SME) conducted at Disaster City (DC) through Texas A&M University (TAMU), and Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) SMEs identified the complete life cycle of fighting a fire, from first call to clean-up. Functions and capabilities were identified for unmanned vehicle firefighting operations. Capabilities prioritized by potential mission equipment packages. The group provided valuable fire fighting resources: financial, organizational, and standards. SMEs offered to provide further support to the FFRS program.
SME Firefighting Panel Findings SMEs identified the complete life cycle of fighting a fire, from first call to clean-up 911 Call Call Processing Dispatch Resources Units En-Route Units On-Scene Initial Attack Fire Controlled? Yes Recovery No Extended Attack
Attacking the Fire Overview Initial Attack Encircle the Fire Containment by Division Frontal Attack Insert Fire Ox D W Wind C X B Division A Left Flank Control Line Point Of Origin Division Z Right Flank A Z Y This is a current capability gap revolutionizing wild-land firefighting 6
Firefighting Robot - What is it A variant of the Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) designed to support the firefighter Capabilities: Capabilities: Transport Gear (i.e. large emergency shelter, oxygen, tools) Casualty Evacuation / Rapid Egress Communications Relay Forward Observer (FOB) Fire Suppression HAZMAT Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Notional Firefighter s s Mission Support System (Variant of SMSS) Benefits: Save lives, reduce time, and increase effectiveness Opportunity to enhance firefighter capability
Firefighting Robotic Capabilities Mobility Low center of gravity Handle diverse terrain types and densities Move rapidly Navigability Route planning & execution, Go to a point, Follow me, Return home, Human/Obstacle detection and avoid Sensibility Sensors for night operations, thermal imaging, sampling probes, weather/environmental sensing Communication Control and data acquisition of the vehicle; communication relay Dexterity Perceptual packages allowing robot to manipulate or probe the environment Reusability Add and create different payloads for the vehicle Transportability Capability to transport important payloads and unspecified items MFC has current expertise in technology areas 8
Firefighting Robotic Functions Hauling supplies Hoses, trunklines People Energy storage needs to be compact Reconnoiter in front of fire Perform night recon operations Provide guaranteed area coverage Direct Fire Suppression Flank fire and perform suppression operations where firefighter cannot access Identify Hot Spots Under canopies w/thermal imaging Investigate Hazardous Areas Mobile Weather Station Determine wind speed and direction Humidity, fuel moisture and temperature MFC has current expertise in technology areas 9
Prioritized Mission Equipment Packages PUMP & HOSE SUPPORT REMOTE NOZZLE NIGHT OPS SUPPORT 3 2 HAND CREW SUPPORT RECON 1 DIRECT ATTACK MEDEVAC RESCUE/MOP-UP UP
Semi-Autonomous Capabilities Follow Trail Go There Follow Person Follow Vehicle * * Additional Capability that needs to be developed
Summary Robotic Systems Are Seeing Growing Use in the U.S. Military There is Potential for Robotic Vehicles to Assist in Wild Land Fire Fighting We ve Had Great Support From Texas A&M and Texas Engineering Extension (TEEX) SMSS is Progressing; Provides the Platform for a Robotic Firefighting Vehicle