Robots - 3MON

Simulated Incident in the Višňové Tunnel: Technologies Tested Rescue Teams and the Colossus Firefighting Robot

Miroslav Hlúbik — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:43:14 +0000

Slovakia’s longest motorway tunnel has undergone one of its final key tests before opening. A large-scale exercise simulating a traffic accident took place inside the Višňové Tunnel, during which rescue units tested technological systems, response procedures and coordination in challenging conditions. The National Motorway Company emphasized that such testing is essential to ensure full operational readiness, as the tunnel’s length, geological complexity and specific operating conditions make it a unique infrastructure project in Slovakia. The exercise helped verify not only the technologies themselves, but also the preparedness of the teams who will respond to real incidents inside the tunnel.

Robotics Supporting Tunnel Emergency Response

The Colossus robot, part of the modern technical equipment of the Fire and Rescue Corps and supplied by our company, also assisted during the drill. In the simulation, the robot performed vehicle fire suppression and demonstrated how, in real crisis situations, its capabilities—especially remote operation and resilience to extreme conditions—can significantly support rescue teams. Although the exercise did not recreate the heat and smoke typical of an actual emergency, these are the environments where Colossus can reduce risk for firefighters and increase the efficiency of interventions in tunnels or other confined and hazardous spaces. Its deployment also highlighted how modern robotic technologies expand operational possibilities during emergency responses in large infrastructure projects.

Source: NDS / YouTube

Technology in the Service of Safety

Exercises like the one carried out in Višňové show how modern technologies are becoming an integral part of firefighting operations and how they can fundamentally improve both safety and effectiveness. We are pleased to have been part of this important testing effort and that the technology we provide contributes to the modernization of firefighting capabilities in Slovakia. Because when seconds matter, technology makes the difference. We believe that similar projects will continue to support the integration of robotics into rescue systems and further enhance the readiness of firefighters for the challenges posed by modern infrastructure and emergency scenarios.

The post Simulated Incident in the Višňové Tunnel: Technologies Tested Rescue Teams and the Colossus Firefighting Robot first appeared on 3MON.

How Robotics is Transforming Firefighting: Safety and Efficiency on the Frontline

Miroslav Hlúbik — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:26:11 +0000

Firefighting is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. Every year, it claims thousands of injuries and dozens of lives. With the growing demands of interventions – from massive wildfires to complex industrial accidents – fire departments are seeking new solutions to keep their crews safe. And this is where robotics in firefighting comes into play.

Modern machines, from remotely controlled firefighting robots to reconnaissance drones, help reduce the risk of injuries, protect human lives, and increase operational efficiency.

Firefighter Safety – Why Is It Such a Challenge?

According to NFPA statistics, more than 63,000 firefighters were injured in the U.S. in 2023, an alarming number that highlights the dangers they face every day. Nearly one-third of these injuries occurred directly during fireground operations – the riskiest phase of their work. This stage is extremely dangerous because it combines high temperatures, limited visibility, toxic smoke, and the constant threat of structural collapse.

Injuries are not only a short-term issue – many have long-term consequences, affecting firefighters’ health and their ability to continue working. These facts emphasize the urgent need for innovative approaches and modern technologies in firefighting that can minimize risks during operations.

„When seconds matter, technology makes the difference.“
Simona Kalinovská (CEO 3MON)

Equally alarming are the fatality statistics: in 2024, 62 firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty, with the majority of fatal cases occurring during fireground operations.

The most common causes include:

burns and heat stress,
smoke or toxic gas inhalation,
chemical burns,
structural collapses or poor visibility.

Long-term health consequences are equally dangerous – research shows that firefighters have a significantly increased risk of lung cancer, bladder cancer, and mesothelioma.

How Robotics Helps Protect Firefighters

1. Remote Fire Suppression

Robots such as Colossus or Rhyno Protect (by Shark Robotics) are designed for environments too dangerous for humans. They can approach the fire source and discharge water or foam from a safe distance of up to 1 km. They are highly mobile (fit through standard doors), powerful, and accurate in targeting the fire, which saves resources and minimizes collateral damage.

2. Monitoring and Data Collection

Before entering a burning structure, access to real-time information is critical. Robots equipped with thermal cameras, HD cameras, and modular sensor packages can detect gases, heat hotspots, or explosion risks. All data is transmitted to a rugged remote control station, giving commanders a clear picture of the situation and enabling fast, informed decision-making without exposing crews to danger.

3. Evacuation and Rescue

Some robotic platforms can be equipped with stretchers or rescue modules to evacuate injured civilians or firefighters from hazardous areas. This reduces the risk for responders who would otherwise have to move victims through smoke-filled or unstable structures.

4. Efficient Use of Resources

Robots can use up to 10 times less water than traditional firefighting methods by applying suppression precisely where it is needed. This reduces waste, conserves resources, and lowers environmental impact.

Case Study: Colossus at the Notre Dame Fire

When the Notre Dame Cathedral fire broke out in 2019, temperatures exceeded 900 °C, and the structure was at risk of collapse. Direct human intervention inside became impossible.

The Colossus robot played a critical role by cooling and stabilizing key areas, supporting the Paris Fire Brigade, and helping save both the towers and valuable relics.

Challenges and the Future of Robotics in Firefighting

While today’s firefighting robots already provide invaluable support, they are not fully autonomous and still rely on human operators. The future lies in artificial intelligence and human-robot collaboration. With machine learning, robots will be able to evaluate risks, adapt to changing conditions, and operate more independently.

Companies like Shark Robotics are already developing fully autonomous prototypes designed for confined spaces. The goal is not to replace firefighters but to provide them with a reliable partner capable of rapid intervention in life-threatening environments.

Technology protects those who protect us

Robotics in firefighting represents a major leap forward in both safety and efficiency. It is no longer just a futuristic concept but a real tool that saves lives and property every day. By operating in environments too dangerous for humans, these technologies enable firefighters to work more effectively, precisely, and – most importantly – more safely. Robots for firefighters will never replace the courage, expertise, and decision-making of human crews, but they provide a protective shield and take on the most dangerous tasks. The combination of human skill and machine precision marks a new era of firefighting – one where modern firefighting technologies stand side by side with those who protect us all.

The post How Robotics is Transforming Firefighting: Safety and Efficiency on the Frontline first appeared on 3MON.

Colossus awarded as an innovative star in firefighting technology

Miroslav Hlúbik — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:57:17 +0000

On October 7, 2025, in Athens, Shark Robotics received the prestigious Direktion Award 2025 for the groundbreaking development of the Colossus robot.
This recognition celebrates technologies that enhance resilience to disasters and support first responders – firefighters, rescue teams, and safety professionals – in the most challenging situations.

The mission of the Colossus robot

Developed in cooperation with the Paris Fire Brigade, Colossus is a fully electric and modular robot capable of operating where human risk is too high.
Thanks to remote control, it allows firefighters to stay at a safe distance while performing critical tasks such as extinguishing fires, clearing obstacles, transporting equipment, or evacuating injured people.

Colossus is designed not to replace, but to enhance the capabilities of emergency teams. Its mission is to support human operators in extreme conditions and minimize their exposure to danger.
With its robust design, exceptional stability, and high load capacity, Colossus can operate in environments filled with thick smoke, intense heat, or unstable terrain – ensuring continuous operation even under the toughest conditions.

Innovation and technology

Colossus represents the pinnacle of firefighting robotics, combining patented technologies, a modular architecture, and high autonomy. Equipped with multiple HD cameras and a high-precision thermal camera, it provides a clear overview even in zero visibility. Operators can remotely monitor the situation in real time and precisely control the trajectory and power of the high-pressure water cannon.

The robot is powered by six specially developed batteries that ensure high resistance to heat and vibrations – crucial for reliable performance in extreme firefighting conditions. Thanks to its modular design, Colossus can be easily reconfigured within minutes to meet the needs of a specific mission – whether that means adding smoke extraction modules, transport systems, or rescue equipment. These innovations make Colossus a revolutionary tool that improves safety, efficiency, and adaptability during operations in high-risk environments. It enables teams to respond faster, with lower risk and greater precision.

3MON brings Colossus to the Czech Republic and Slovakia

We are proud that 3MON has been the long-term representative of the Colossus robot for the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.
Thanks to this partnership, we can deliver this award-winning technology directly to firefighting and rescue units in our region and support them in the modernization of intervention procedures.
The photo shows Slovak firefighters during a fire intervention near Hustopeče with the Colossus robot – proof that this world-class technology is already helping to protect lives here in our region.

The power of technology in the service of safety

The Colossus award is a clear signal that modern robotic solutions are becoming increasingly important in the field of fire protection and emergency response.
At 3MON, we believe that such innovations help protect what matters most – people, property, and nature. For Shark Robotics, a French company founded in 2016, the Direktion Award 2025 represents recognition of years of dedication to developing technologies that save lives. Colossus stands as proof that courage and technology can go hand in hand, because when every second counts, technology makes the difference.

The post Colossus awarded as an innovative star in firefighting technology first appeared on 3MON.

Intervention in Hustopeče nad Bečvou: International cooperation in emergency response

Mária Fechová — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 09:44:00 +0000

On 28 February 2025, a large-scale fire was reported in the village of Hustopeče nad Bečvou in the Olomouc Region involving railway tankers carrying benzene. Due to the high danger of this chemical, a special fire alarm level was declared and firefighting units from all over the region immediately rushed to the scene. This intervention in Hustopeče nad Bečvou was characterized by the deployment of state-of-the-art firefighting equipment – the Colossus robot, a high-capacity CAS 40 Tatra 815-7 tanker, and more.

Initial deployment and escalation of the situation

The first units arrived on scene shortly after the fire was reported at 11:39. The situation developed quickly and by 13:00 the number of units intervening had increased to 29. Later, after 14:00, 39 units were already registered, of which 12 from the Fire Brigade of the Olomouc Region and 17 from the Fire Brigades of the Moravian-Silesian and Zlín Regions. For the first time in history, the Czech Republic Police airborne equipment was also deployed to this type of fire, carrying out a total of 50 water drops using a Bambi bag.

The nature of the fire and the danger of benzene

Benzene is a toxic, highly flammable liquid with carcinogenic effects. Soot and potentially hazardous fumes are released during combustion. Firefighters therefore took extraordinary measures, including sending warning text messages to residents in the vicinity and monitoring the air by a chemical laboratory from Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. Preliminary analyses showed that the air samples were negative.

International cooperation

Due to the scale of the fire, a reinforced intervention from the Slovak Republic was requested. The Fire and Rescue Corps of the Slovak Republic sent special equipment to the fire site – a large-capacity tanker CAS 40 Tatra 815-7 10×10, nicknamed “Beštia”, and a firefighting robot COLOSSUS. The Slovak units were actively involved in the fight with the flames, while the COLOSSUS robot was used to survey the intervention site and identify critical points via thermal imaging camera.

Complexity of intervention and organisation

Firefighters formed six response sections at the scene to coordinate the firefighting efficiently. A total of 160 firefighters were involved in the intervention , 60 pieces of equipment and 4 drones were used to monitor the situation. Due to the danger of toxic fumes, firefighters were equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus (ADP).

Investigation and ecological consequences

The firefighting operation lasted well into the night hours and the firefighters cooperated with environmental protection authorities (CIŽP, ORP Water Authority, Morava River Basin) to prevent ecological damage. After the flames were extinguished, the chemical residues were pumped into spare tankers and the affected railway carriages were subsequently removed. Preliminary damage is estimated at CZK 125 million, while investigators of the Fire Brigade of the Czech Republic, together with criminal investigators of the Czech Police and the Railway Inspectorate, are determining the exact cause of the fire.

Source of information and photos: HZS Olomouc Region and Fire and Rescue Corps

The post Intervention in Hustopeče nad Bečvou: International cooperation in emergency response first appeared on 3MON.

Training for Colossus robot operators

audito — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 09:35:00 +0000

Training for Colossus robot operators took place in February. We trained 20 new instructors to operate and train operators for the COLOSSUS electric firefighting robots by Shark Robotics. The training was divided into two days.

Since it was instructor training, we went really in depth. On the first day we went through the complete theory of the features of the robot and its accessories. However, the often “unfun” theory was completely changed in nature by additional questions from the participants themselves. After more than 3 hours of theory, we moved to the courtyard where we tested the basic movement and control of the robot.

More interesting, however, was the second day, where we presented the instructors themselves with difficult tasks and the often limiting technical capabilities of the machines themselves. The instructors tried out the correct technique of driving the robot forward and backward, learning the weight and behaviour of the robot when traversing the first and last steps.

The University of Žilina provided us with perfect training facilities, thanks to which we had the opportunity to try moving in very confined spaces and the help of a winch when climbing stairs that bordered on a 40-degree inclination.

At the end of the training, each pair was given one last task and that was to disassemble all the accessories from the robot and reassemble it. This task was to demonstrate the ability to modify the robot within tens of seconds for a different kind of use. All instructors mastered this task and we were able to successfully end two days full of new knowledge ready for real use of the robot in interventions.

The post Training for Colossus robot operators first appeared on 3MON.

The COLOSSUS robot is part of the Slovak Fire and Rescue Force

Mária Fechová — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:09:00 +0000

Slovakia equipped its firefighters with new equipment at the end of 2024, which included the handover of 10 pieces of the modular electric robot COLOSSUS to the Fire and Rescue Force. Officialy, we can say the COLOSSUS robot is part of the Slovak Fire and Rescue Force.

Almost immediately after the robots were handed over, intensive familiarisation with their features and capabilities began. We started the training on how to operate the robot, where the operators tried moving with the robot, using its accessories. The first attachment was a water cannon with a flow rate of up to 3,500 liters per second. The robot was equipped with a rotating turret featuring an optical camera with 40x zoom. The turret also includes a thermal camera and auxiliary lighting. A motorized bumper for obstacle clearing is also part of the equipment.

The biggest challenge is gaining control of the robot and learning which part of the tablet controls what. The right side controls robot movement, speed, the video tower, and the motorized bumper. The left side controls the water trap and switches it to sprinkler mode. It also manages lights, the siren, and the electric water valve. You can also control the winch from the left side. The top of the tablet is used to switch camera views.

After the basic introduction we “toughened up” in the training and it was the turn of pushing away obstacles, extinguishing with the help of water, foam and even a combination of these activities. The firefighters also tried using multiple robots at once on an obstacle that was beyond the capabilities of a single robot. The COLOSSUS robot successfully handled these challenges, and we believe it will become a valuable member of the HaZZ team.

The post The COLOSSUS robot is part of the Slovak Fire and Rescue Force first appeared on 3MON.

NATO Days Ostrava 2023

Mária Fechová — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:08:00 +0000

NATO Days Ostrava – the weekend was full of action and demonstrations by acrobatic pilots, fighter pilots, helicopter pilots, military, police and firefighters. The event with international participation, which was packed with state-of-the-art equipment, has been held for more than 20 years and this year was attended by an estimated 180,000 visitors from all over the world.

Thanks to an invitation from the organisers , we were able to be part of the USAR team’s stand, which was enriched by the presentation of the Rhyno Protect firefighting, all-electric robot, which became one of the most popular pieces of equipment at the show within the first few hours. Despite its small size, it managed to make a big splash among the visitors, as well as the professional audience, thanks to its design, workmanship, agility and functions.

We were very surprised by the interest of visitors on NATO Days Ostrava who were interested in the robot. They asked us very relevant questions.

Frequently asked questions about the Rhyno Protect robot.

What is the weight of the Rhyno Protect firefighting robot?

The weight of the robot is around 200 kilograms, depending on the chosen accessories that the robot can have.

How long does it last in action on a single battery charge?

The robot lasts up to 5 hours on a single charge. It is equipped with two replaceable batteries. If you have a spare set of batteries, within a few minutes the robot is able to continue working for another 5 hours. The batteries take about 2 hours to charge.

What is the maximum speed of the robot?

The Rhyno Protect robot can travel at a maximum speed of 5km/h. However, it has two additional speeds that can be selected directly on the controller.

How much water does it use in firefighting?

The robot is connected to a fire truck that regulates the water pressure during extinguishing. The maximum flow rate of the lance is 1000 litres per minute.

What can we use the robot for?

Primarily the robot is used for firefighting, but Rhyno Protect is a fully modular robot that can be modified in minutes. After dropping the water cannon, we can attach a basket to the base to carry a load (the robot has a load capacity of up to 250kg), or a stretcher to carry a wounded person. It can also be used to push/pull obstacles. The robot can also be equipped with multiple cameras – thermo camera, 360 degree camera, or CBRN sensors to detect chemical agents.

What is the heat resistance of the robot?

Rhyno Protect is resistant to heat waves up to 900 degrees Celsius.

Where is such a robot already in use?

Rhyno Protect and Colossus firefighting robots are used all over the world. For example, they helped to extinguish the huge fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in France.

Rhyno Protect has won its fans

Thanks to our colleagues from the fire force, who connected our Rhyno with a hose to the water, we had the opportunity to show the power and capabilities of the robot in extinguishing.

The weather was nice all weekend and so there was room for a little fun for the participants, when Rhyno helped to cool the visitors of the area, which was of course the greatest joy for the little ones 🙂

The NATO Days in Ostrava 2023 were a great success. You can already look forward to next year and another robot🙂

The post NATO Days Ostrava 2023 first appeared on 3MON.

We were part of the Fire Protection 2023 conference

Mária Fechová — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:24:00 +0000

We were part of the largest conference on fire safety “Fire Protection 2023 conference“, which took place at the Technical University of Ostrava. The organizers managed to bring together the scientific community and experts from the “profession” in one place, thanks to which this conference offered an interesting program.

At 3MON, we try to enrich such events not only with our know-how, but also with real demonstrations of interesting technologies. This time at the conference we presented the Rhyno Protect firefighting robot from the French company Shark Robotics, of which we are an official partner and representative, as well as a camera for early detection of fires from OPTIX.

Our CEO, Simona Kalinovská, also participated in the lectures, where her presentation covered topics such as robotization in firefighting (Robot Rhyno Protect and Colossus), fire control and firefighting of electric vehicles (Fire blankets).

After the lecture, you had the opportunity to visit us at our stand, where you could also see some new technologies from our portfolio, whether it was the OPTIX camera, which is used for early detection of forest fires, or fire extinguishers with new extinguishing agents suitable for extinguishing lithium batteries.

Thank you for the invitation, the opportunity to present our technologies and know-how in front of a professional audience, a fruitful discussion and the opportunity to meet interesting colleagues in the field of fire protection.

Watch the video from the conference

The post We were part of the Fire Protection 2023 conference first appeared on 3MON.

Project SILVANUS

Mária Fechová — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:05:00 +0000

Robots, AI or drones are only usable in firefighting if we add vision and know-how

The modern way of fighting forest fires cannot do without technologies that already exist and are waiting to be incorporated by science, the private sector, firefighters, foresters and other safety forces into their daily operations. That is why 3MON as a supplier has become part of the event – Project SILVANUS, which is researching and addressing effective prevention and extinguishment of the green lungs of our planet on an international level.

To get a better idea, let’s transport ourselves to the near future and model a typical forest fire situation. Imagine you are walking through a beautiful piece of forest on a ridge in a protected nature reserve on a hot summer’s day and you see smoke at the foot of the ridge. A prolonged drought might tell you that it’s not just a family out for a barbecue, but that you might be witnessing the start of a forest fire. As a hiker, you have no idea that there is a really big stretch of the valley that is prone to fire, which was discovered by scientific methods and correctly predicted by the Technical University in Zvolen. They took into account the amount of fuel, the nature of the subsoil, meteorological forecasts, windiness and many other parameters.

That is why one of the powerful modern monitoring cameras supplied by 3MON has been installed at this risky location. Practically at the same time as you spotted the fire, our camera also caught and detected smoke from the undergrowth. You, as a conscious tourist, send a photo of the smoke with geolocation data and data about your location in relation to the fire to an application designed and launched by experts from the Institute of Informatics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. By the time your electronic warning reaches the central system, the camera footage is already being evaluated by the firefighters of the relevant district fire brigade. The same information is also provided in real time to the forest rangers managing the smoking area and other components of the integrated rescue system.

Not even twenty minutes have passed since the first smoke and foresters confirm that the forest fire is starting to spread quite rapidly. The intervention commander from the district administration of the regional directorate of the fire and rescue brigade issues an alarm and firefighters head into the difficult to reach and increasingly hot terrain. However, they do not know the details of the access routes, which may change due to forestry activities. Relying on outdated analogue maps would be risky.

Operators among specially trained firefighters are forming a swarm of firefighting drones that can accurately monitor the extent and precise location of fires, provide a detailed overview of the terrain, the location of water sources and, of course, the movement of firefighters and their equipment. All this is brought together by the technology and software called GINA, which 3MON supplies to the Slovak market. Thanks to this system, the intervention commander can determine the intervention strategy in real time. Each firefighter also carries a monitoring device, which is also used, for example, by humanitarian organisations when their personnel move in danger zones.

Thanks to this modern technology, firefighters get to water and fire faster and the chances of containing a spreading forest fire when it is still in its infancy are increased. Taking off in a helicopter with a Bambi bag, firefighters install ponds and pump water directly to the fire. However, one of the sections is dangerous for the deployment of a live force, so a special firefighting robot, Colossus, approaches the fire. For a certain part of the section, it carries several hundred kilograms of equipment into the field, saving the forces of the exhausted firefighters. In one of the sections, the robot, connected to a fire engine, creates a water curtain to protect the firefighters from the dangerous heat for some time. Then, guided by remote control, it approaches the critical section of the fire and extinguishes it using, if necessary, a removable barrage. Later, it also monitors the condition of the roots to see if they are smouldering, all without the need for firefighters to be physically present at the spot where the fire is strongest. Suppression is also done with the help of a special, environmentally safe compound that is added to the water and has the ability to penetrate deeper into the soil down to the smouldering tree roots.

After a relatively short time, the fire is controlled until it is completely extinguished. As the incident commander had perfect visibility thanks to the GINA system, fortunately no one was injured. The early extinguishing of the fire also saved the state millions of euros, as the fire did not have time to spread.

Modern firefighting training

This is also how a forest fire scenario in Slovakia could play out. Although we do not live in southern Europe, where such fires are more frequent, climate change is threatening similar situations in Slovakia. That is why 3MON has joined the international SILVANUS project, which links science, firefighters, foresters and the private sector. All with the aim of achieving better prevention and elimination of forest fires. The model story mentioned above illustrates the vision that 3MON brings.

This is how forest fire fighting could and, in my opinion, should be carried out when we make adequate use of the possibilities provided by modern technology, whether it is the use of artificial intelligence and integrated IT solutions, drones, robots, coupled with the right vision, scientific knowledge and the playfulness of firefighters, foresters and other components of the integrated rescue system.

We also tried out modern forest fire-fighting procedures during the pilot demonstration of the SILVANUS project, which took place in the Kyslinky Biosphere Reserve in Poľana from 24 to 26 April; the demonstration itself took place on 25 April. It shows that if modern technology is added to the excellent credentials of our firefighters, who have demonstrated their abilities, for example, in extinguishing forest fires in Greece, we can save hectares of precious forest from fires.

Although the demonstration itself took place in unseasonably wet weather, even such a large international project, of which 3MON is proud to be a part, is not spared by the weather conditions.

However, I am glad that the technologies that we have supplied to the project as 3MON have been excellent and we can say that even in the event of an acute fire, they would definitely make the work of the various components of the fire brigade much easier.

Watch the video from the SILVANUS pilot demonstration.

The post Project SILVANUS first appeared on 3MON.

COLOSSUS – a robot with a clear goal

Mária Fechová — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 13:27:00 +0000

Colossus robots are developed by Shark Robotics, a company founded in 2016 that is currently considered a global market leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality unmanned ground vehicles that combine performance, reliability and robustness. With its robotics and mechanical capabilities, the robots are manufactured and designed for specific customer needs and the specific tasks they are to perform. In our country, it proves effective as a firefighting robot.

Robot Colossus – the only “fire-whipped” firefighting robot

Designed and developed in collaboration with the Military Fire Brigade of Paris (BSPP), the Colossus robot has been used in 270 interventions over a period of 5 years in a variety of difficult conditions and dangerous environments. In La Rochelle, France, the entire process of research, development, design, assembly as well as 100% of production took place.

The COLOSSUS robot is the world’s most powerful multi-purpose support robot, resistant to high temperatures and with excellent field performance, designed for intervention in hazardous areas with versatile applications for firefighters, military and industrial safety. It stands out for its resistance to temperatures up to 600 °C, its strong and durable construction in aircraft aluminium.

Capable of moving forward and backward on various types of surfaces at a speed of 7.5 km/h, COLOSSUS is able to climb stairs up to 40° inclination, pass through doorways 78 cm wide or more, turn on the spot and overcome obstacles up to 30 cm high.

One of the many advantages of the COLOSSUS robot is its enormous power, which is up to 16,000 watts of cumulative power. It is capable of pulling and pushing 1000 kg, its carrying capacity is 500 kg and its battery life is up to 12 hours of deployment (6 batteries 29,8 – 46 Ah).

Depending on the purpose of the deployment, the robot can be quickly adapted to a specific task by changing its equipment in less than 30 seconds by one person without the need for special tools:

installation of the water trap: 10 seconds,
material carrier, assembly/disassembly: 20 seconds,
stretcher carrier for transporting persons: 20 seconds,
operable bumper for entering spaces or clearing obstacles: 20 seconds.

Interesting are also its other technical parameters and features such as dimensions 160x78x76 cm, weight (without equipment) 500 kg, electromagnetic brakes and tactical rails for equipment, control range up to 600 meters and IP67 resistance.

With the IK Shark remote control, the robot can be controlled remotely using a dual frequency transmitter (433 and 870 MHz) for a visible range of up to 300 meters. The remote control allows control of the water trap, siren, LED lighting and winch. The NX-Shark remote control, which has a range of up to 500 meters, provides the IK Shark remote control features in addition to output from the robot’s video cameras on an 11.6-inch screen, telemetry data, information on the robot’s position, deployment time and speed.

Robots and the integrated rescue system

The possibilities of using robots in Slovakia within the Fire and Rescue Corps as well as other components of the integrated rescue system and the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic are really wide, for example, as an aid for individual intervening forces and their protection, assistance in difficult and inaccessible terrains, complex conditions of intervention or the use of the possibility of transmitting information from dangerous and difficult to reach places of an emergency incident. Significant assistance can be provided in times of intervention and need:

fire monitoring using FullHD cameras and thermal imaging cameras,
fire extinguishing with a water cannon with a flow rate of 3000l/m,
monitoring the area with CBRN (chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear) sensors,
ventilating and cooling the area with a large capacity fan,
the robot may have a structure for attaching a stretcher for transporting a wounded person,
creating an escape route for possible passage or intervention of the integrated rescue system by means of a controllable front bumper,
the need for a spare air reservoir source,
the transport of equipment for firefighters
activities using an automatic winch up to 1000 kg

Since the beginning of the use of robots in France by the military Paris Fire Brigade, the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion and other French fire brigades, it has been put to real use in interventions such as:

A 500^m2 electrical equipment warehouse fire involving 150 firefighters, with the fire also threatening neighbouring warehouses. The robot made use of a water cannon module that enabled remote extinguishing and facilitated the location of the burning areas by means of a thermal imaging camera,
the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral fire, which took 10 hours at 800 °C, threatened to collapse the roof and melt the metal structures, the Colossus water cannon robot cooled the interior and prevented the structures from collapsing,
fire in 3 warehouses with a total area of 6,550^m2, with the risk of ignition of stored material (textiles), 211 firefighters participated in the firefighting during 9 hours of intervention, a water cannon robot carried out extinguishing, a thermal imaging camera was used to carry out a survey and transmit information on hidden fire outbreaks,

a fire of 16 trucks with the risk of spreading to hazardous substances that were transported in other trucks, the robot with a water cannon extinguished and cooled the burning trucks,
an underground garage fire where flames engulfed 2,000^m2, the robot provided road lighting for firefighters despite opaque smoke atme and transported equipment for the firefighters’ reconnaissance and assault team

The post COLOSSUS – a robot with a clear goal first appeared on 3MON.