Design Summary Draft 1

In the article "Firefighting Robots Go Autonomous"(2021), Braxton (2021) highlighted to the public the advantages and disadvantages of using firefighting robots to extinguish fires. The author claimed that firefighting robots can help to reduce risk to firefighters as they can perform tasks too dangerous for humans. According to research, the author said that an average of 80 firefighters die when over 3,000 Americans die in fires each year. The author mentioned that these firefighting robots are able to enter burning buildings too hot for human survival. Jane stated that these robots are in the progress of making them autonomous. According to the author, a firefighting robot named Robotics Systems 3(RS3) has shown its capabilities and is now being used by the Los Angeles City Fire Department. It is merely a tool to provide humans with effective strategies without risking their lives. Another firefighting robot named R2-D2 was a group project designed by a group of university students. This robot proved that an autonomous robot can be built with a budget of around $40,000-$50,000 and can go as little as $10,000. However, this robot is not ready for real-world fire as there are problems such as manoeuvering in unexpected terrains. Therefore, these firefighting robots will never be able to replace a firefighter. 

References 

Jane Braxton Little. (October 2021) Firefighting Robots Go Autonomous. Scientific American

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/firefighting-robots-go-autonomous/