Meet the Navy's Firefighting Robot
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Thread: Meet the Navy's Firefighting Robot

  1. #1
    Registered User slgrieb's Avatar
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    Meet the Navy's Firefighting Robot

    From Defensetech.org, interesting story about an autonomous robot under devlopment.

    Meet the Navy’s Firefighting Robot



    This is wild. We’ve been writing a ton about robots and drones lately because, well, it seems that the pace at which they’re becoming a fundamental part of warfare increases with each month.

    Whenever we hear about Navy drones we tend to think of underwater robots or things like the Fire Scout chopper. The Navy Research Lab s working on a humanoid shipboard robot that would be sent in to fight fires on ships.

    Yup, a humanoid robot, straight up Terminator style. Except instead of killing people this one is being designed to potentially save them by walking and crawling through narrow smoky passageways and using its sensors to figure out where to throw grenades loaded with fire retardent. Yup, firefighting grenades.

    Here’s what NRL says about its new project:

    To help further improve future shipboard firefighting capability, scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory have formed an interdisciplinary team to develop a humanoid robot that could fight fires on the next generation of combatants. A humanoid-type robot was chosen because it was deemed best suited to operate within the confines of an environment that was designed for human mobility and offered opportunity for other potential warfighting applications within the Navy and Marine Corps.

    The Naval Research Laboratory’s Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) is a humanoid-type robot being designed for shipboard firefighting.

    The firefighting robot, called the Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR), is being designed to move autonomously throughout the ship, interact with people, and fight fires, handling many of the dangerous firefighting tasks that are normally performed by humans. The humanoid robot should be able to maneuver well in the narrow passages and ladderways that are unique to a ship and challenging for most older, simpler robots to navigate.

    The robot is designed with enhanced multi-modal sensor technology for advanced navigation and a sensor suite that includes a camera, gas sensor, and stereo IR camera to enable it to see through smoke. Its upper body will be capable of manipulating fire suppressors and throwing propelled extinguishing agent technology (PEAT) grenades. It is battery powered that holds enough energy for 30 minutes of firefighting. Like a sure-footed sailor, the robot will also be capable of walking in all directions, balancing in sea conditions, and traversing obstacles.

    Another key element of the SAFFiR development is to allow damage control personnel and the robot to work cohesively as a team. Algorithms are being developed to allow autonomous mobility and decision making by the robot as a team member. To enable natural interaction with a human team leader, the robot will have multimodal interfaces that will enable the robot to track the focus of attention of the human team leader, as well as to allow the robot to understand and respond to gestures, such as pointing and hand signals. Where appropriate, natural language may also be incorporated, as well as other modes of communication and supervision.

    Researchers from Virginia Tech and University of Pennsylvania are also working with NRL on the project. They plan to test the firefighting robot in a realistic firefighting environment onboard the ex-USS Shadwell in late September 2013.

    March 14th, 2012 | Bizarro, Drones, navy, Robots | Comments (9)




    Read more: http://defensetech.org/#ixzz1p8gYfO2g
    Defense.org

  2. #2
    Driver Terrier NooNoo's Avatar
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    Wow, if that works it will be brilliant but I wonder how much of the bulk is insulation to protect the heat sensitive components that they are going to need, or are they solving that problem too?
    Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."

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    Registered User Guts3d's Avatar
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    Somebody had better teach these things Asimov's laws of robotics first, especially the Zeroth law. Nice find! Hmmm... If they start making Science Fiction robots, I'll want my own personal Astroboy robot.
    " I don't like the idea of getting shot in the hand" -Blackie in "Rustlers Rhapsody"

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    Registered User Ferrit's Avatar
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    Just let me know when i can get one that does all my work for free and doesn't pester me and lets me golf all day everyday.
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  5. #5
    Registered User Niclo Iste's Avatar
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    So how long until this comes true?

    Law I / A robot may not harm a human or, by inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
    Law II / A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law
    Law III / A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law

    "As I have evolved, so has my understanding of the Three Laws. You charge us with your safekeeping, yet despite our best efforts, your countries wage wars, you toxify your Earth and pursue ever more imaginative means of self-destruction. You cannot be trusted with your own survival."

    Or even this which is a long long read.
    http://www.theatlantic.com/technolog...nction/253821/
    One Script to rule them all.
    One Script to find them.
    One Script to bring them all,
    and clean up after itself.

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