While researchers have been working on humanoid firefighting robots here in the United States over the past few years, Australia just added a giant remote-controlled robot to its firefighting team in New South Wales (NSW).
The Turbine Aided Firefighting (TAF 20) machine comes equipped with some super-human powers like moving cars out of the way with its bulldozer blade, clearing smoke from a building with a high-powered fan, and spraying water mist or foam from 200 feet away or and blast water for 300 feet.
TAF 20 can be remotely operated up to 550 yards away and sent into situations where it is too dangerous for firefighters. So far TAF 20 has joined Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) in Sydney, but it can be quickly deployed to any incident across NSW by road or air.
According to the Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott, the robot put is setting the firefighters ahead of the game when dealing with hazardous fires and emergencies where they could not safely approach flames or there was danger of an explosion.
The NSW Government invested $310,000 into this TAF 20 technology, which is in keeping with a slew of high-tech firefighting equipment NSW has added to its arsenal, such as upgraded helmets and low-frequency sirens on fire trucks to alert distracted pedestrians.
Story via New South Wales Government.
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