Robots are becoming more commonplace by the day. In recent news, America received its first firefighting robot. The Los Angeles Fire Department purchased a robotic firefighting vehicle called the Thermite RS3 for roughly $277,000 – which isn’t very affordable. Still, if it does an excellent job at saving lives, it’ll be worth it. If it proves itself worthy, the department is considering buying more of them.
So far, The Thermite RS3 has come in very handy. It was put to use on its first day in service, sent to help put out a significant fire even before its grand debut. The blaze engulfed two Fashion District buildings in downtown Los Angeles, requiring over 130 human firefighters to put it out. The robot helped by clearing debris inside the building.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said:
It was exciting to see this unique piece of apparatus put into action on its first day in service. We had a large one-story commercial building; it was housing piles of textiles and multiple rolls of fabric. The Thermite RS3 helped push piles of smoldering wet debris, creating a path for the firefighters to operate safely. We got some dirt on the tires before the press conference.
The 3,500 lbs Thermite RS3 is almost as hefty as a smart car and can withstand exposure to extreme elements. It has treads like a tank that can navigate rugged terrain and ascend 70-degree slopes and a V-shaped plow that can push debris (even cars) out of the way. It also has a winch that can pull as much as 8,000 lbs.
It features a cannon that can blast water or foam at 2,500 gallons per minute and align itself vertically to work as a sprinkler. It’s operated via remote control with high-definition video feedback for ultimate maneuverability in complicated conditions. It can run for twenty hours non-stop before needing to refuel.
The Thermite RS3 is manufactured by the Textron Systems subsidiary Howe & Howe Technologies, specializing in advanced robotic land vehicles.
Geoff Howe, the Senior Vice President of Howe & Howe, said:
This is our first step in bringing these life-saving capabilities to firefighters across the United States. Our robotic firefighter, Thermite, empowers first responders in life-threatening emergencies by keeping them farther out of harm’s way.
Seeing as new challenges continue to emerge in the fire service, the LAFD welcomes the idea of using technology to enhance its firefighting operations – mainly to reduce the risk for its firefighters.
Capt. Scott said:
The RS3 will be important in many situations, including commercial fires, fires involving under-construction wood-framed structures, fuel tanker fires, and auto storage fires. The machine could assist during wildfires, pulling hoses up steep hillsides or protecting homes threatened by flames. It could also be used for large animal rescues or in situations involving barricaded subjects. The list of potential uses is “endless and dependent upon imagination and need. The important thing is that we are reducing risk to firefighters.
The station plans to use the robot in situations where firefighters’ risk is too high, such as when hazardous materials are involved or a building becomes structurally unstable.
Capt. Scott told CNN:
The point is we cannot afford to lose firefighters. We would much rather lose a piece of machinery so that we would put this into situations we would not put firefighters in due to significant hazards.
According to the US Fire Administration, there have been at least 72 fatalities so far this year. In 2018, the National Fire Protection Association tallied over 58,000 injuries to firefighters in the line of duty, with over 47,000 of them being linked to exposure to hazardous conditions.
