Fighting fires is among the most dangerous jobs. Firefighting robots, some remotely operated and able to withstand intense heat, spray water or foam onto blazes in situations too hazardous for firefighters to approach directly, such as industrial fires and tunnels.
By taking on the most dangerous positions, they protect human crews and can sustain an attack on a fire where people could not stay. They work under human direction and alongside firefighters rather than replacing their skill and judgement, and they must be rugged and reliable in brutal conditions, but they add a valuable option for the most extreme situations.