Modular Fire Extinguishing Vehicle With Autonomous Agent Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression systems in vehicles and remote locations face challenges in efficiently and safely extinguishing fires, particularly those occurring deep within vehicles, and manned fire engines may take time to arrive, posing risks to firefighters.
Innovation Solution
A modular fire extinguishing vehicle equipped with a drive module and a fire extinguishing module, containing multiple fire extinguishing agents, autonomously navigates to the fire site, identifies suitable ports, and selectively delivers the appropriate agent to extinguish the fire based on fire type and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manned fire engines are dispatched to remote locations, then fire suppression capability is provided, but response time is delayed and firefighter safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing vehicle autonomously detects fires, navigates to fire locations, selects appropriate extinguishing agents, and executes suppression operations without human intervention. The system serves itself by integrating sensors, autonomous navigation, agent selection logic, and delivery mechanisms into a single self-operating unit that responds immediately to fire detections in remote areas
Solution Approach 2:
An unmanned fire extinguishing vehicle serves as an intermediary between fire detection systems and fire suppression actions. The vehicle acts as a mobile platform that bridges the gap between remote fire detections and effective suppression, eliminating the need for manned intervention while maintaining reliable fire suppression capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of fire extinguishing agents are carried, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but vehicle complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing vehicle stores different types of extinguishing agents in separate, segmented containers. Each container holds a specific agent type (e.g., water, foam, dry chemical, CO2) and can be independently accessed and dispensed. This segmentation allows the system to carry multiple agent types without creating a complex mixed-storage system, as each agent remains isolated in its dedicated container until needed
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle employs a dynamic agent selection system that automatically chooses the appropriate extinguishing agent based on real-time fire detection data. The selection mechanism dynamically switches between different agent containers and delivery pathways, allowing the system to adapt to various fire types without requiring manual reconfiguration or complex fixed infrastructure
3Speed
If autonomous navigation is implemented, then response speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing vehicle integrates multiple functions into a single autonomous platform: fire detection sensing, navigation and positioning, path planning, obstacle avoidance, and fire suppression execution. This multi-functional integration allows the vehicle to operate autonomously from detection to suppression without requiring separate specialized systems, thereby improving response speed while managing overall system complexity through consolidation
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular fire extinguishing vehicle (400) comprising at least one drive module (20) and a fire extinguishing module (40) releasably connected to the at least one drive module (20). The fire extinguishing module (40) comprises a plurality of containers (430, 431, 432) comprising different types of fire distinguishing agents and a fluid line (420) connected to the plurality of containers (430, 431, 432). The fluid line (420) comprises a connecting interface (405) for connection to a port of another vehicle (1). The vehicle (400) also comprises a control device (200, 300) configured to obtain information about an ongoing or imminent fire in another vehicle (1) and information indicative of a position of the other vehicle (1). The control device (200, 300) is configured to autonomously or remotely operate the modular fire extinguishing vehicle (400) to drive to a position in proximity to the other vehicle (1) based on the position information of the other vehicle (1), to enable connection of the connecting interface (405) of the fluid line (420) to a port (11, 12, 13) of the other vehicle (1); and to control transfer of a selected one of the different types of fire extinguishing agents from its corresponding container (430, 431, 432) into the fluid line (420), wherein the selected type of fire extinguishing agent has been selected, based on the information about the ongoing or imminent fire in the other vehicle (1). The disclosure also relates to a corresponding method.