Hyundai Motor Group has introduced the Unmanned Firefighting Robot, which is designed for deployment in active fire scenes.
The Unmanned Firefighting Robot is preemptively deployed to high-risk fire scenes that are difficult for firefighters to enter due to risks of collapse, explosion, high temperatures, toxic gas or dense smoke. It remotely identifies and assesses the situation, approaches the fire’s source and directly extinguishes the blaze. By tackling dangerous situations in place of people, the robot ultimately protects the lives and safety of firefighters and citizens.
The device — based on ‘HR-SHERPA’, a multi-purpose unmanned vehicle developed for military use — integrates ‘unmanned electrification technology’ with remote operation, vision enhancement, and a thermal management package. To operate in high-temperature environments, its body features a self-spraying water-cooling system and insulation structure, providing heat resistance of up to 800 degrees Celsius — supporting safe operation of its battery and electric control systems.
Key technologies include:
- Advanced Self-driving Assistance System: The system recognizes surrounding terrain and obstacles to minimize collision risk in curved, narrow, or obstacle-dense environments. The robot has a top speed of 50 kph and can handle inclines of up to 60 percent longitudinally and 40 percent transversely, allowing it to reliably access sloped areas like underground parking lots or warehouse ramps. It can also traverse vertical barriers up to 300 mm.
- AI Vision-enhancing Camera: Leveraging short and long wave infrared thermal imaging sensors, the camera provides critical situational awareness by transmitting precise, real-time video, even when visibility is poor due to dense smoke and high heat.
- High-Pressure Self-illuminating Hose Reel: The high‑pressure photoluminescent hose mounted on the robot is a next‑generation firefighting hose that incorporates photoluminescent properties, allowing it to emit light on its own even in darkness. At sites where visibility is severely limited, firefighters typically rely on the hose to determine their entry direction and secure an escape route. In environments such as underground area, the hose emits or reflects light, guiding escape routes and supporting the safe movement of entry teams even when visibility is poor.
- 6x6 In-wheel Motor System: This electric powertrain from Hyundai Mobis places a motor in each of the six wheels, allowing for 360-degree rotation in place for exceptional maneuverability in tight spaces. It also features high durability through waterproof and dustproof electrical modules. By eliminating the need for a separate drive shaft, this design improves drive efficiency and control, showing significant potential for other mobility applications that require low-speed precision maneuvering, such as last-mile logistics robots and autonomous shuttles.
Hyundai
