Image credit – Brigid Glanville @ ABC News
For the longest time ever, humans have been fighting fires and putting them out. Granted over the years we’ve started to see more technology incorporated into fire-fighting attempts, and recently it seems that over in Australia, a country known for its bushfires especially during the summer, they have recently unveiled their first ever fire-fighting robot.
This was revealed by NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliot, along with Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins. Dubbed the Turbine Aided Firefighting machine (TAF 20), this is a robot that can be controlled remotely in order to help firefighters put out fires without having to risk their lives, at least to a certain extent.
The robot can blast water for 90 meters and can also spray water mist or foam from 60 meters. It also has a built-in high-powered fan to help blow smoke away. However what makes it pretty cool as well is the fact that it comes with bulldozer blades that can push cars out of its way to clear a path for the robot or other emergency services personnel.
According to Commissioner Mullins, “It can be remotely operated up to 500 metres away and sent into situations where it is too dangerous for firefighters, which is a huge advantage as the safety of firefighters is my highest priority.” It does not come cheap as the TAF 20 is said to have cost $310,000 and had to be imported from Germany.
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