SAFFiR
Also known as Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot
Bipedal firefighting robot developed for the US Navy that walked a decommissioned ship's compartments and aimed a hose at a live fire.
| Maker | Virginia Tech with the US Naval Research Laboratory |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| First shown | 2014 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Height | 1.78 m |
| Mass | 65 kg |
| Actuation | Linear series elastic actuators with titanium springs |
| Sensors | Infrared stereo vision, rotating lidar, six axis force and torque sensors in the ankles |
| Autonomy | Semi autonomous task execution with a human supervisor in the loop |
SAFFiR is 1.78 m tall and weighs about 65 kg, with legs driven by linear series elastic actuators and whole body momentum control so it can stay upright on a moving deck and step over door sills. It navigates smoke using infrared stereo vision and a rotating laser scanner, with a human supervisor able to take over any task. In November 2014 the Office of Naval Research tested it aboard the ex-USS Shadwell, where it walked uneven flooring, located overheated equipment by thermal imaging and suppressed a fire with a hose.
Of note
- Fought a live fire aboard the ex-USS Shadwell in November 2014
- Funded by the Office of Naval Research with the Naval Research Laboratory
Maker: www.vt.edu