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EP-4735123-A1 - AUTONOMOUS ROBOT FOR FIRE PROTECTION

EP4735123A1EP 4735123 A1EP4735123 A1EP 4735123A1EP-4735123-A1

Abstract

A robot (100) for fire protection comprises: - a motor (16) and at least one wheel (20) for moving the robot (100) on the ground, - a means (14) for confirming a fire-outbreak zone, - a main tank (11) for receiving water and a water cannon (12) connected to the tank by means of a distribution pump (13), and - an autonomous control device (15) connected to the motor (16), to the confirmation means (14) and to the water cannon (12) so as to autonomously control the movement of the robot (100) and the distribution of water to the fire-outbreak zone.

Inventors

  • DE NAZELLE, Paul
  • DE VEYRINES, Cyril
  • KABBARA, Cyrille

Assignees

  • Shark Safety Group

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (12)

  1. Robot (100) for fire protection, characterized in that it comprises: - a motor (16) and at least one wheel (20) for moving the robot (100) on the ground, - a means (14) of confirming a fire start zone, - a main tank (11) for receiving water and a water cannon (12) connected to the tank by means of a distribution pump (13), and - an autonomous control device (15) connected to the motor (16), to the confirmation means (14) and to the water cannon (12) so as to autonomously control the movement of the robot (100) and the distribution of water to the fire start zone, robot in which the confirmation means (14) of a fire start zone comprises a camera (14), the camera being configured to identify and confirm a false positive, i.e. a detection of a hot spot or resembling a fire start which does not in fact correspond to a fire start, and the control device (15) is configured to identify a fire start zone among the information transmitted by the camera (14).
  2. Robot according to the preceding claim, in which the camera is a stereo camera.
  3. Robot according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a chassis (10) and a turret (18) pivotally mounted relative to the chassis (10), the turret carrying the confirmation means (14).
  4. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an outer casing (17), which in particular envelops the main tank (11) and the control device (15), this casing (17) preferably comprising a bumper element (19) in its lower part.
  5. Robot according to the preceding claim, in which the outer casing (17) is provided with a tank filling orifice, provided with a means for connecting a fire hose.
  6. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising both: - a drive wheel (21), driven by the motor (16), and - a non-driven wheel (22), called an idler wheel, to facilitate the guidance of the robot (100).
  7. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (15) comprises means for receiving (23) a signal from a fire safety system of a building, preferably means for receiving a WIFI signal.
  8. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (15) integrates geolocation means configured to guide the robot (100) during its movement towards the area where the fire started, and possibly to produce or update in real time a map of the environment of the robot (100).
  9. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (15) comprises a calculation module capable of processing the information provided by one or more of the elements of the group comprising the confirmation means, geolocation means, an obstacle sensor, so as to be able to carry out a real-time mapping of the environment of the robot during its movement. Preferably, the calculation module is configured to process each of the information provided by the identification means, geolocation means and an ultrasonic sensor.
  10. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two water distribution pumps (13), connecting the water cannon (12) to the tank (11).
  11. Robot (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one secondary tank adapted to contain a low water consumption means to be combined with the distributed water, for example compressed foam, a gas, a dysphasic system or even a retardant.
  12. Robot according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the main tank (11) has a fluid volume capacity of between 800L and 2500L, preferably between 1500L and 2000L, more preferably close to 1800 L.

Description

Autonomous robot for fire protection The present invention relates to a robot for fire protection. In particular, it relates to a robot which makes it possible to extinguish the start of a fire or to contain it for as long as possible in complete autonomy before the intervention of the firefighters. We already know from the state of the art a fixed fire extinguishing system of the "sprinkler" type installed in a building such as an underground car park or a warehouse. Such a system comprises a mesh of nozzles permanently connected to a water network, such as external tanks or pipes. Such nozzles are generally equipped with glass capsules filled with mercury which burst under the effect of heat. When they burst, the passage for the water is therefore opened and the pressurized water in the network can escape. The calibration of a nozzle is generally around 70°C, so the triggering is relatively late. The sprinkler network can be doubled with a network of smoke sensors to launch a fire alarm, which the mercury capsule is not able to do. One difficulty is that when such a fixed fire extinguishing system is triggered, the nozzles burst and can unnecessarily spray non-dangerous areas in the event of a false alarm or if the danger zone is not precisely located. In addition, this installation system must be kept under pressure at all times and requires extensive work to integrate the nozzle mesh into the building. Documents CN110755783, CN112619003, CN109985342 and CN108704232 are also known to provide robots capable of detecting the start of a fire. The proposed invention aims in particular to optimize water distribution while effectively controlling the start of a fire. For this purpose, the invention aims at a robot for fire protection, comprising: - a motor and at least one wheel for moving the robot on the ground, - a means of confirming a fire start zone, - a main tank for receiving water and a water cannon connected to the tank by means of a distribution pump, and - an autonomous control device connected to the engine, the confirmation means and the water cannon so as to autonomously control the movement of the robot and the distribution of water to the area where the fire started. We are therefore proposing a particularly efficient robot in that it is capable of autonomously carrying out three distinct actions, namely confirming a fire start zone, moving towards this fire start zone, and directing the water distribution towards this specific zone so as to enable an initial delivery of water as quickly as possible after the start of the fire is detected. Such a robot is therefore suitable for extinguishing the start of a fire, also called a "hot spot", without the intervention of firefighters, or for containing this start of fire for as long as possible before the arrival of firefighters. In other words, the robot is capable of distributing what is called a "surgical strike" on an area where a fire is starting. It is understandable that it is much more interesting to be able to distribute water only to a hot spot, rather than spraying a large area of water, as can be the case with a fixed sprinkler mounted in an installation ("sprinkler"). Not only can water be saved, but installation costs are also very low because it is not necessary to install a mesh of water "sprinklers". In addition, unnecessary flooding of the environment outside the hot spot is avoided. An “autonomous control device” means that the control device can operate autonomously, without the intervention of a person. In this case, the robot is suitable for moving without a driver and without remote control, to confirm the start of a fire and/or distribute water without being controlled by a person. Of course, it may be possible to add to these autonomous functions the possibility of controlling these functions by a person, in particular by remote control, however the robot is capable, in addition to this possibility, of operating autonomously. This is particularly advantageous because autonomous confirmation, movement and distribution offers very high speed of action and avoids putting people in danger. In particular, unlike “sprinklers”, the robot can intervene before the capsules can detect the 70°C on the ceiling. Typically, the capsules are designed to burst as the temperature (around 70°C) is detected, so there is no precise location of the start of the fire and its progress. In addition, such a “sprinkler” system is not configured to launch a fire alert, it can be backed up by smoke sensors that detect the area of the start of the fire more quickly to launch an alert. Thus, the “sprinkler” system is passive, but late, neither allowing to launch an alert nor to confirm with precision the exact location of the start of the fire. The main tank preferably receives only water, but can also possibly receive a fluid comprising water mixed with an emulsifying agent to reduce water consumption, suitable for better containing the fire. The main t