Washington: US navy will be getting firefighting robots that could help it douse fires at sea. A sophisticated and latest model of a firefighting robot was unveiled at the Naval Future Force Science & Technology EXPO in Washington D.C recently.

The new firefighting robot is division of the Naval Prototype program Damage Control Technologies for the 21stCentury or DC-21. It has been launched to improve shipboard condition awareness and the competence to sustain damage control with the aid of the new technology.

The latest and advanced technology underwent several successful trials on the USS Shadwell; a decommissioned Navy vessel supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) used thermal imaging technology to identify overheated machineries while stamping on floors that were uneven.

The 5'10" tall, having a weight of 143 lbs, SAFFiR has its sensors that include infrared stereovision and an orbiting laser to detect light and range LIDAR in order to have a visual in course of a thick smoke.

According to the Navy, the SAFFiR is designed to take calculated steps and manage the hoses by itself. However at the current state, it is working on the basis of the instructions from a computer console, said the Navy.

SAFFiR was made by researchers at Virginia Tech and is helping ONR to determine the possible ways to employ unmanned systems on naval vessels.