In recent years there has been a shift toward keeping people away from hazardous situations where possible. In many countries around the world fire brigades have already implemented the use of remote-controlled solutions (such as robots), with great success as they strive to achieve greater levels of safety.
In the same way, there is still an expectation to ensure effective fire suppression even where fire crews maybe be at a reduced capacity. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it would be prudent to support emergency response teams (or individual firefighters), with equipment that can help them to do their job better and as such remote-controlled solution can be of great assistance.
SA Fire Protection, are an Italian manufacturer of fixed firefighting systems and equipment who have developed a highly customisable emergency response unit named the “Robot-TINO” for firefighters. The Robot-TINO allows fire fighters to get closer than ever to the fire while remaining at a safe distance.

The Robot-TINO was specifically designed for fighting fires in industrial process areas, tunnels and storage terminals, but it can also be used for terrorist incidents, urban areas, and whenever firefighters need to deal with hazardous substances or extreme temperatures. The unit is protected against heat radiation with a cooling system which allows the Robot-TINO to get closer to the fire origin to suppress it with higher probability of success. In this regard, the fire brigades are better equipped to deal with fires while keeping the risks to firefighters at a minimum.
In terms of manoeuvrability, the Robot-TINO gives the user complete flexibility to adjust direction (left/ right; forward/ backward) and height (up/ down movements & tilt). In addition to the high-visibility LED headlights and blinkers the Robot-TINO comes with, the unit can be fitted with cameras or sensors which can be used as a means of gathering intel when assessing the risks in inaccessible or dangerous areas, as well as assisting in search and rescue operations.
Due to its robust and durable design, the Robot-TINO can enable emergency responders to perform their duties better and more safely. Furthermore, this remote-controlled solution including the firefighting monitor can be installed with other accessories to allow complete operation from a remote location. Depending on what is required, it is possible to fit the Robot-TINO with a wide variety of accessories to suit the needs of the fire brigade such as monitors, dry chemicals, foam, gas detectors or Infrared camera systems. All options available can be tailored and adapted to the specific application and requirements of the Emergency Response Team.
With robotics already playing a key role in firefighting, it is the duty of manufacturers like SA Fire Protection to ensure that there are reliable solutions available to meet the needs of modern firefighters while keeping them as safe as possible.
For more information on using robotics for industrial firefighting visit www.safireprotection.com/