After five years of research, MHI unveiled its Water Cannon Robot, its Hose Extension Robot, and a reconnaissance robot during a demonstration at the National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster in Tokyo.
According to MHI, both the Hose Extension and Water Cannon Robots “are built on chassis frames modified from small farm buggies that offer strong suspension combined with outstanding road maneuvering. The frames are equipped with GPS and laser sensors that together enable autonomously controllable movement. With the integration of advanced technologies, the robots are able to self-drive directly to the scene of a fire.”
Whether MHI intends to develop these robots for distribution at facilities that handle volatile and energetic chemicals is up for debate. The company didn’t mention a strategy for producing these bots in its literature, but needless to say, if another Fukushima Daiichi meltdown were to occur, robots like these could be critical in stopping a problem before it spirals into a man-made disaster.