When a building is on fire or a forest blaze is raging, firefighters face deadly risks every time they enter the danger zone. Now, a four-legged robot could help keep them safer by going in first.

Meet the Fire-Fighting Robot Dog

Chinese company Unitree has created a special version of its B2 robot dog specifically designed to fight fires. This isn't just a regular robot with a water hose attached – it's been completely redesigned to handle extreme heat, smoke, and dangerous conditions that would be deadly for humans.

The robot dog can carry different equipment depending on what's needed. It might scout ahead with cameras to show firefighters what they're dealing with, or it could roll up with a powerful water cannon ready to blast flames from a safe distance.

Serious Fire-Fighting Power

The robot's water cannon isn't a toy – it can shoot water or foam up to 200 feet away at a rate of 40 liters per second. That's like emptying a bathtub every two seconds. The cannon can tilt up to 85 degrees, so it can aim at fires on different floors of a building or in treetops.

When the job is done, the robot can automatically disconnect its hose and move on to the next task without any human help.

Built for Extreme Conditions

Fighting fires means dealing with intense heat, so the robot has its own sprinkler system – not to put out fires, but to keep itself cool. The body is made from special heat-resistant materials and is completely waterproof and dustproof.

The robot dog has also been made much stronger than the regular version. Its joints are 170% more powerful, allowing it to climb over obstacles up to 15 inches high and tackle steep stairs at 45-degree angles. This means it can navigate through rubble, collapsed structures, or rough terrain that might stop other robots.

Different Tools for Different Jobs

The robot can swap out different modules depending on what firefighters need:

• Surveillance cameras to send live video back to human operators
• Robot arms for moving debris or opening doors
• LiDAR sensors for mapping dangerous areas in smoke-filled conditions
• Communication equipment to stay in touch with the fire crew
• Air blowers specifically designed to fight forest fires by separating flames from fuel

Already on the Job

This isn't just a concept – these robot dogs are already working. Two of them have officially joined the Qingdao Firefighting and Rescue Support Team in China, and they've proven themselves in various drills and real-world tests.

The robots use hot-swappable batteries, meaning they can keep working for extended periods by quickly switching out power packs without shutting down.

The Future of Firefighting

While human firefighters will always be essential, robot dogs like this could dramatically reduce the risks they face. Instead of rushing blindly into a burning building, firefighters could send in a robot first to assess the situation, map escape routes, and sometimes even start fighting the fire before humans enter.

The company is now selling these fire-fighting robot dogs, though they haven't announced pricing yet. As the technology improves and costs come down, we might see robot dogs becoming a standard part of fire departments around the world.

For firefighters who put their lives on the line every day, having a robot partner that can handle the most dangerous parts of the job could be a game-changer.