There's an innovation in fire safety that's about to literally take flight. This is the "Dragon Firefighter", a "flying dragon" robot (remember those colorful Japanese kites?) designed to fight fires in a revolutionary way.
The device, the result of the work of researchers at Tohoku University in Japan (I'll link the search here), is capable of dealing with extremely risky fire situations. Situations in which human intervention proves too dangerous.
The genesis of the “Flying Dragon”
The adventure of the Dragon Firefighter comes from afar. It all began in 2016 in the Professor's laboratory Satoshi Tadokoro at Tohoku University.
The researchers worked closely with fire industry professionals to fully understand their specific needs. The result? The creation of a four-meter long robot, remotely controllable and designed to safely approach fire sources to effectively put them out.
Advanced technical features
The robot, capable of operating two meters from the ground, uses the energy generated by eight water jets positioned in its central part and in its "head". The nozzle configuration is flexible, which allows it to adapt and align with the direction of the flames.
The flexibility of the flying dragon is driven by a control unit located on a wheeled cart positioned behind the robot. In turn, the trolley is connected to a fire engine equipped with a water reserve of 14.000 litres. That's all? Wait.
Technology and the learning process
The core of this system's efficiency lies in a combination of traditional cameras and thermal cameras which takes place in the tip of the tube. Its purpose? Greatly improve the robot's fire locating and extinguishing ability.
The first test of the system was performed in September 2021: on that occasion the Flying Dragon Firefighter successfully extinguished a demonstration fire. Take a look for yourself.
After this initial feedback, the research team made several improvements to the robot's design: better waterproofing, better performing nozzles and a better water flow mechanism. The challenge is now to extend the operational range of the robot beyond 10 meters: the crucial step before actual use in real scenarios.
Future prospects and impact on fire safety
With continued development and refinement, the research team envisions that firefighting robotics technology can be implemented in real-world scenarios within the next decade. The success of the Dragon Firefighter could mark a turning point, especially in situations where the risk from human interventions is excessively high.
Can you imagine a flying dragon like these, perhaps operated by an artificial intelligence? A system capable of recognizing at a glance (sorry, of a camera) the position of a fire, its scope, its strength, and of intervening exactly how and how much is needed. Less risk for human firefighters and faster interventions. Fly, friend!
