By FireRescue1 Staff
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Researchers developed a new design in firefighting robots that increases their ability to maneuver through fires.
According to a press release, Purdue University researchers designed a new automatic T-valve system that can remove water from the fire hose whenever a robot moves to a new location.
The system enables the robot to maneuver more quickly around a burning structure.
“This discharge valve invention could be the next transformation of the fire service that saves lives,” Eric Dietz, Homeland Security Institute director and Purdue Polytechnic Institute professor, said. “This invention further enables the firefighting robot by adding to the robot mobility and saving lives within the fire service and, most importantly, with the public. With this improvement, the firefighting robots are better able to save lives and protect property.”
Dietz added that the efficiency of firefighting robots is increased when the weight and power consumption is reduced, and he said the system closes the potential gap between the machine and a human firefighter due to improved mobility.
The T-valve system also improves the battery life of a robot, according to Dietz.
The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization is now looking for partners to continue the research and take the system to the market.