07-04-2011, 02:17 PM
PRESENTED BY:
Myles Durkin
Kevin McHugh
Ryan Ehid
Brian Lepus
Stephen Kropp
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Problem Statement
The robot that this team is proposing to build must be capable of performing many tasks. The robot must be able to search a two story, three bedroom house in under 15 minutes. In addition the robot must be able to identify victims and deliver an air tank, fire blanket and homing beacon to their location in order to extend their lives while the firefighters attempt to control the blaze. In order to be able to exist in such harsh conditions the robot must be heat resistant and water resistant. To make the robot more maneuverable the weight of this robot has been limited to 150 pounds and the width of the robot has been limited to two feet to accommodate doorways. The main goal of this project is to save lives. If the robot can successfully aid in the rescue of victims who would have otherwise perished in a fire this groups goals have been met.
I. Introduction
Historically, fire has been one of mans greatest fears. Fire has the ability to destroy all in its path regardless if on land or on sea. In the present day fire, while not as substantial of a fear as in previous centuries, is still a legitimate cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that someone dies in a fire once every 162 minutes and someone injured by fire every 32 minutes. As such, the goal is to create a robot which can travel through a burning home, recognize and identify any persons within, and extinguish a fire to allow for said person to exit the building safely. A robot such as this could also be sent into a burning building ahead of firefighters to assess the risks of sending a human being inside. Integrating robotics into life threatening these life threatening situations can help save countless lives while not putting the lives of the firefighters at risk.
This device would be able to overcome obstacles such as stairs, fallen tables or chairs and reach a stranded person. It follows that this robot must have some type of infrared detection system or rudimentary video camera to allow for the recognition of victims and fire hazards. Also this robot must be capable of extinguishing a small fire using some fire quenching material. While the initial idea for this project stems from an actual robotics competition sponsored by Trinity College, our finished product would be radically different. We plan to build a marketable and useful device which could be employed in any situation where fire hinders human search and rescue efforts. Traditionally fires that are out of control must be put out or controlled before firefighters can begin searching for survivors inside a structure. With the integration of this robot, the search and rescue operation can begin immediately and simultaneous to efforts to control the blaze from the outside of the structure. This robot could be used by fire departments but also by military branches looking for a safe and effective way to extinguish fires especially in enclosed areas like ships.
While there are naturally many versions of firefighting robots which are used in the aforementioned competition this project differs quite substantially. In the competition an entirely autonomous robot is created which can traverse a predetermined path and extinguish a candle however, our robot will be built with a control system which will allow a team member to guide the robot through an unknown building and put out a fire. This control system will require a great deal of programming, circuitry, and mechanical knowledge as well as a guidance system to assist the driver through an ostensibly smoke filled room. This robot will also be capable of putting out a larger flame than that in the competition, and as such our robot must be impervious to flames so as to withstand the possible dangers which come from fire rescue. The robot must also be able to withstand the large amounts of water that will be pouring into the structure from the firefighter’s efforts on the outside. A water or fire extinguishing system of some type must also be incorporated into the design; possibilities include a simplistic water hose as well as a normal fire extinguisher. The human operator will be in control of this and will be able to engage/disengage as well as aim the extinguishing material toward the blaze. A further control which we would like to incorporate is the ability of the robot to transport a fire proof blanket to protect any person who is trapped in the burning building as well as some type of device which allow people trapped to know help is on the way. This would require an additional set of controls so that the blanket would be protected from damage while the robot is traveling through the home as well as allowing it to be distributed by either the controller or trapped individual.
It will be necessary to examine the materials used to determine if they are fire proof so as to design a robust robot. As in any life-threading situation, time is of the essence and the speed of the robot and the efficiency with which it navigates the building is paramount. Varying gear trains must be examined as with wheels or possible treads to determine which would be best for this project. It will be required that the motor powers be evaluated so as to determine the most efficient method to power the robot (battery, solar power, etc.). As mentioned above this robot cannot be tethered to the control board thus it is necessary to implement a communication system between the robot and the controller. It is also required that the control of this robot be streamlined to allow any person to use it regardless of their occupation.
Ultimately the goal of this project is to integrate all of the advantages of robots with all of the advantages of having a human being on scene. Humans can react faster to changing scenarios than can robots, however robots are capable of maneuvering where humans cant, are able to lift heavier objects, are able to maneuver better in limited visibility and can withstand much higher levels of heat. A robot such as this could be used in scenarios varying from a house fire to high-rise fires and could even make disaster rescues similar to 9/11 happen with much greater efficiency and with much less loss of life on the part of the rescuing parties.
