Unmanned firefighting robot developed for hazardous sites in Japan's Fukuoka Pref.
FUKUTSU, Fukuoka -- The fire department serving the Fukuoka Prefecture cities of Munakata and Fukutsu has developed a small, unmanned firefighting rob
FUKUTSU, Fukuoka -- The fire department of Munakata and Fukutsu cities in Fukuoka Prefecture has created an unmanned firefighting robot in collaboration with Tokyo-based robotics firm Tmsuk Co. The compact robot was introduced at the Fukutsu Fire Station on October 23. Standing 1.5 meters tall, measuring 1.7 meters in length and 1 meter in width, and weighing 430 kilograms, it is capable of spraying water up to 60 meters.
The four-wheel-drive vehicle boasts a top speed of 4.5 kilometers per hour and a communication range of 100 meters. It is controlled via a tablet displaying images from the robot's five cameras, allowing for vertical and horizontal movement of its water cannon. According to Tmsuk, the robot addresses challenges faced during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, as well as the 2025 fire in Oita's Saganoseki district, where narrow roads and wooden homes contributed to the fire's spread.
The company, with a local development base in Munakata, developed the robot over two years, utilizing approximately 10 million yen in subsidies from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' program to support fire and disaster prevention research and technology. Tmsuk aims to deploy the robot in two years and hopes to incorporate artificial intelligence for more efficient firefighting operations.
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