Intelligent Fire Fighting System

Introduction

Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment. Firefighting is a highly technical skill that requires professionals who have spent years training in both general firefighting techniques and specialized areas of expertise.

The word robot was derived from Czech word robota which means “a forced laborer” then later a well known Russian science fiction writer Isaac Asimov coined the word robotics. From there on various different developments are being successfully done till date in the field of robotics in the form of teleoperated manipulators, humanoids , micro robots etc. as the trend of the industry is moving from the current state of automation to robotization . Thus the robot technology is advancing rapidly. Now a days the most commonly used robots in industry is a robotic manipulator or a robotic arm .Robotic arm is basically an open closed kinematics chain of rigid links interconnected by movable joints. The end of the arm is connected to the end-effectors. The end-effector maybe a tool and its fixture or a gripper or any other device to do the work. The end-effector is similar to the human hand with or without fingers.

Objective

The purpose of our project is to extinguish a flame in a certain amount of time and having to get through an obstacle course all at once. The robot has to see a line without crossing it. Touch a wall without knocking it down and identifying a flame and extinguishing it.

Benefits / Contributions

Firefighters' goals are to save life, property and the environment. A fire can rapidly spread and endanger many lives; however, with modern firefighting techniques, catastrophe is usually, but not always, avoided. To prevent fires from starting, a firefighter's duties include public education and conducting fire inspections.

Because firefighters are often the first responders to people in critical conditions, firefighters provide many other valuable services to the community they serve, such as:

• Emergency medical services, as technicians or as licensed paramedics, staffing ambulances;
• Hazardous materials mitigation (HAZMAT);
• Vehicle Rescue/Extrication;
• Search and rescue;
• Community disaster support.
• Fire Risk Assessments

Additionally, firefighters also provide service in specialized fields, such as:

A hose team training to fight an aircraft fire aboard a US aircraft carrier, 2006.

• Aircraft/airport rescue;
• Wildland fire suppression;
• Shipboard and military fire and rescue;
• Tactical paramedic support ("SWAT medics");
• Tool hoisting;
• High Angle Rope Rescue;
• Swiftwater Rescue.

In the US, firefighters also serve the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as urban search and rescue (USAR) team members.

Problem Statement

The robot must be able to identify victims and deliver an air tank, fire blanket and homing beacon to their location in order to extend their lives while the firefighters attempt to control the blaze.  In order to be able to exist in such harsh conditions the robot must be heat resistant and water resistant. The main goal of this project is to save lives.  If the robot can successfully aid in the rescue of victims who would have otherwise perished in a fire this groups goals have been met.

Literature Review

              The history of firefighting can be dated back to the times of Ancient Egypt where hand pumps were used to fight fires.  However, it wasn’t until 1699 in France, that firefighting became modernized.   Here, François du Mouriez du Périer introduced the first commercially provided fire pumps to the City of Paris.  In the 1800’s helmets were introduced to protect the firefighters.  The first steam powered fire engine was used in Cincinnati Ohio on April 1, 1853.  This was also the first full time paid fire department in the United States.  However, in 1907, the first internal combustion engine fire engines were developed.  These lead to the extinction of the steam engine fire engine by 1925.

             Today, fire companies are both paid and volunteer.  The technology is far more advanced than in the earlier times.  Firefighters wear full heat resistant gear and are equipped with oxygen tanks and high pressure fire houses.  Companies such as AFT (Advanced Firefighting Technology) are working to make firefighting safer and more effective with low-pressure Water Mist and CAFS (compressed air foam systems).

            The London based company, Qinetiq has been commissioned to deploy a team of three robots to respond to fires where Acetylene gas is present.  When this gas is present in canisters, firefighters are forced to sit back and watch the fire until after the gas has exploded.  The three robots each have a specific job and can keep the human fire fighters out of danger. Other companies, Brazilian based ARMTEC, Las Vegas based InRob and iRobot, inventors of the Roomba, have also been developing robot technology for firefighting.  The technology is far from perfect however and will be continuously developed in the coming years.