Firefighters and rescuers in China have put a four-legged robot, also known as a robot dog, into service for the first time, the Global Times reported.
The robot dog was reportedly used for the first time by a fire and rescue team in Changsha city in central China’s Hunan province.
Before being put into operation, the four-legged X30 robot, developed by DEEP Robotics, took part in several fire drills and assisted in rescue operations in high-rise buildings.
The X30 robot weighs approximately 56 kilograms, is approximately 1 metre long and 50 centimetres high. The robot has been designed to solve complex industrial tasks.
The company told the publication that one of X30’s key features is its ability to operate in temperatures ranging from -20 to 55 degrees Celsius. It can autonomously move and function in extreme conditions, be it scorching heat or extreme cold, with a range of more than 10 kilometres, overcoming obstacles at speeds of up to five metres per second. The robot is widely used for inspections of energy facilities, in emergency rescue operations and on police patrols.
In addition, the robot is equipped with remote control and two-way communication, allowing firefighters to operate it remotely, keeping in touch in real time.
The robot is also equipped with sensors capable of detecting harmful gases at fire scenes, providing important data to rescuers, a technical expert from the company told Global Times. He said the robot has the ability to scan and create three-dimensional maps of the space in real time, allowing firefighters to get accurate information about hazardous areas in real time.