Robotics

Thermite fire-fighting robot removes firefighters from harm's way

View 20 Images
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot on the Bulldog firefighting truck
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot on the Bulldog firefighting truck
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot on the Bulldog firefighting truck
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot and a Guardian robot on the Bulldog firefighting truck
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
Thermite robot plans
G2 Guardian robot with RS1 Base and robotic arm
Different configurations based on the RS1 robot
E2 Eagle Eye robot with RS1 Base and cameras
The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot
RS1 Base robot
M1 Terramax robot with RS1 Base and bulldozer blade
View gallery - 20 images

Howe and Howe Technologies of Waterboro, Maine, has unveiled the firefighter of tomorrow called the Thermite RS1-T2. Based on technology developed for the U.S. Army, this squat little modular robot on tank treads is a small, powerful fire fighting machine that provides crews with a means for remote reconnaissance and fighting fires in hazardous areas safely.

The Thermite is designed to be used in areas of extreme hazard, such as aircraft fires, refineries, chemical plants or nuclear reactors. In fact, brothers Mike and Geoff Howe, who founded Howe and Howe, used the Fukushima nuclear disaster as an example of the kind of location where the Thermite is intended to be used. Not only is it preferable to risk a robot instead of a person, the Thermite is also immune to smoke, fumes and fatigue – the last of which is a major cause of death in firefighters by heart attack.

The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot

The Thermite is remote controlled and can be operated from up to a quarter of a mile (400 m) away. It’s not large, measuring only 74 inches (187.96 cm) long, 35 inches (88.9 cm) wide and 55 inches (139.7 cm) high, and weighing in at 1,640 pounds (743.89 kg). However, it’s small size is a deliberate design feature. The Howe brothers wanted the Thermite to be able to go through doorways and navigate interior spaces. Also, being small means the Thermite is easy to transport in city traffic – especially when using the company’s Bulldog fire fighting truck, which is designed to carry a pair of Thermites or similar sized robots.

It’s also powerful for its size. Its 25 bhp (18.64 kW) diesel engine can haul up to 1,270 pounds (576 kg) and its steel and aircraft-grade aluminum construction help it to traverse the most rugged of terrain and provide reconnaissance. Its main firefighting tool is a multi-directional nozzle that is backed by a pump that can deliver 600 gallons per minute (2271.25 l/min).

Thermite robot plans

The Thermite is derived from the Howe and Howe RS-1 Base, which is a robot platform that can also be fitted with a robotic arm or cameras for reconnaissance, or configured as a bulldozer. By sending in a combination of robots, firefighters can not only put out fires, but also assess the situation, search for survivors and clear debris.

This is a Swiss Army knife of a robot. The question is, will its modular design make it into a versatile firefighting team or will it, like the eponymous knife, be able to do many things, but few of them well? It’s no substitute for human firefighters, but it does provide an alternative to sending people into extremely dangerous situations and with its multiple configurations it can perform a range of tasks in hazardous environments.

The RS1-T2 Thermite firefighting robot on the Bulldog firefighting truck

The Thermite RS-1 T2 sells for US$98,500 and can be seen in action in the video below.

Source: Howe and Howe via Dvice

View gallery - 20 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
7 comments
Kyle Knapp
This is a horrible rip-off. Almost a year to the day that Fire Research debuted their UGV.
http://www.fireresearch.com/frcnews/archives/518
Jairus Pierce
Rural/Metro FD had this 20+ years ago.....
Thored
Actually, Fire Research's UGV could be considered a ripoff.
The Thermite is a scaled down repurposed design inspired by Howe and Howe Technologies' Ripsaw unmanned military vehicle that started as a family project in the year 2000 and a prototype of the vehicle was ordered by the U.S. Army in 2001.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripsaw_(vehicle)
Toffe Carling
Well a remote like this is cool, but useless when fighting an aircraft on fire (as in the pic). As an ex airport fire fighter, I can tell you that there is no time to have it unload and fight the fire enough to keep the people on the inside from being cooked. It takes 90 sec from the normal temp inside the cabin until it rockets up to over 500C. That´s why the international rules say that airport fire fighters have 90 sec from time of alarm to the point where they have to put out 90% of the fire. (Gothenburg airport record is 11 sec from sleeping in beds to have the fire engine outside.) So better use a really fast fire engine with "water cannons".
Stephen N Russell
Could have used this in La Canada Station Fire, 2009. & could have aided reducing mudslides.
Apps: trail making, debris removal, MedEvac with pod on rear or larger model, place explosives to clear debris from fire?, dig ditches make fire breaks, use saws to cut down trees, spray fire with huge Liq Oxygen unit to freeze flames?, Mapper ( pre post fire), Tug, Tractor, deploy Mini ROVs into fire area or for Rescue.
Pikeman
re; Stephen N Russell
Liquid Oxygen would make the fire hotter/faster perhaps liquid nitrogen.
Corey Deas
Looks like a vehicle from Gforce(battle of the Planets) Gotcha man