Remote-controlled firefighting robot disperses water up to 295 feet

It’s the beginning of summer in Australia, and residents now have some hi-tech help for battling bushfires this season.

A remote-controlled, turbine-aided firefighting robot will soon be on the front line in New South Wales. Known as the TAF 20, the bot was recently unveiled in Sydney by the Minister for Emergency Services, David Elliott, and Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner, Greg Mullins.

This firefighting robot can shoot a stream of water up to 295 feet, and is controlled remotely. Image source: NSW Government.

The TAF 20 is essentially a turbine mounted on a small tracked vehicle. Water is fed through the turbine, which is then turned into mist, foam, or jets of water, and is ejected by a powerful fan towards the fire. It can shoot a stream of water up to 295 feet, and it can spray foam or mist at 197 feet. The robot is also equipped with a high-powered fan so that it can clear smoke from a room.

According to Mullins, the machine can be remotely operated up to 1,640 feet away, and can be sent into situations where it’s too dangerous for firefighters. It also has a bulldozer blade which is capable of clearing obstacles such as cars during a tunnel incident, or debris following an explosion.

The TAF 20 is equipped with a bulldozer blade that can clear obstacles, such as cars. Image source: Fire and Rescue NSW.

The robot, for which the state paid $310,000 (US$222,131), will be housed in Alexandria, ready to be deployed across the state at all times.

“This puts Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters ahead of the game when it comes to managing hazardous fires and other emergencies where firefighters cannot safely approach the flames, for example when there is a danger of explosion,” Elliot said.

The TAF20 is a joint development by German firefighting equipment producer, Magirus, and Italian firm EmiControl, a subsidiary of TechnoAlpin, which is a manufacturer of snow-making machinery.