Forest
Fire robotic vehicle*
*(shown in comparison to a large backhoe)
Current problem: Forest
Fire Teams are required to work in an environment where they are exposed to an
ever-changing dangerous situation.
There is a need for equipment to support the movement of debris and
rubble to minimize and/or control the fire.
Current equipment that is capable of doing this is very large and cannot
be transported into remote areas, plus such machines are dangerous to use in
mountainous areas.
Current Solution:
Adaptation of a COTS backhoe/loader to that of a tracked design
minimizes the danger to the operator by placing him away from the fire and the
vehicle. Helicopter or standard size
pickup truck vehicles can provide transportation. In addition, the design can be quickly modified with new and
existing firefighting systems that may include water cannon, fire suppressant
systems and cameras.
Benefit: Using such a design gives Fire Fighting
Teams the mechanical tool to equal the work capacity of over 10 men. In addition, integration with nuclear,
biological, chemical (NBC) detection systems allows this design to be used to
support Homeland Security.
Specifically, to remove vehicles and/or debris that may contain
explosives or are burning from adjacent areas and to help extinguish fires for
airport and transportation needs. Such
a design will also support Army units responsible for fighting fires that may
be caused by accidents, explosions, or bombs.
