Autonomous fireproof drone can reccy high-rise fires

FAROS is a fireproof drone, which can autonomously navigate a fire site and provide vital data and information before firefighters go in.

High-rise fires pose particular risks for firefighters — accessibility is often limited meaning assessment is difficult, and the dense nature of urban spaces make them hard to contain. We have already seen Kaist in South Korea have developed fireproof drones, called FAROS, which could help do the job.

FAROS, short for fireproof aerial robot system, can detect fires, navigate the building and transfer vital images and data to firefighters remotely, providing them with potentially life-saving information before they enter the building. The drone can both fly and climb walls; it uses a 2D laser scanner to spot obstacles and autonomously alter its path or mode of movement accordingly. It also has a thermal-imaging camera and image-processing technology, so it can recognize people inside the building and potentially ascertain the point where the fire started. The drone is covered in aramid fibers, making it flame-retardant and capable of withstanding heat of up to 1000 degrees celsius for over a minute.

FAROS joins AirMule and Project Premonition as examples of drone technology being used in life-saving application. How else could the technology be used to make incredibly dangerous jobs safer?