Australia’s first remote controlled firefighting robot is poised and ready to battle dangerous fires and explosions across NSW.
With its super-human powers, the Turbine Aided Firefighting (TAF 20) machine can move cars out of the way with its bulldozer blade, clear smoke from a building with a high-powered fan, spray water mist or foam for 60 metres and blast water for 90 metres.
TAF 20 can be remotely operated up to 500 metres away and sent into situations where it is too dangerous for firefighters. It is the only one of its kind in Australia and joins Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) in Sydney.
Although it’s based in Alexandria, TAF20 can be quickly deployed to any incident across NSW by road or air.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said the robot put FRNSW firefighters ahead of the game when managing hazardous fires and other emergencies where they could not safely approach flames or for when there was danger of an explosion.
The NSW Government has invested $310,000 into this technology and TAF 20 joins NSW’s arsenal of high-tech firefighting equipment like superior helmets and low frequency sirens on fire trucks to alert distracted pedestrians.
“The Society of Fire Safety (SFS) is excited to see the addition of this state-of-the-art robot to FRNSW’s arsenal of firefighting tools and that FRNSW is at the forefront of adopting innovative ideas and technology. The ability of FRNSW to attack fires remotely and effectively complements performance-based fire safety engineering designs to protect people from the effects of fire,” said Sarnia Rusbridge, chair of SFS NSW Chapter.
“The use of robotic tools in the future will provide new opportunities in the development and application of innovative fire safety engineering designs and solutions, resulting in safer and cost-effective buildings,” said Ms Rusbridge.
Source: New South Wales Government