By Writing Team
Posted in September 24, 2024
STW Response, a new robot for fighting forest fires, has an operational autonomy of 10 hours. (Photo: Press Release)
The equipment developed by the company is one of the technologies used in combating fires across the country and discharges more water than a Fire Department truck; Ambipar is also responsible for offsetting the carbon footprint of the entire event.
Ambipar presented, during ROG.e 2024 (formerly Rio Oil & Gas), the STW Response, a new fire-fighting robot created by Ambipar Response, a subsidiary of Ambipar focused on crisis management and responses to environmental emergencies.
With an operational autonomy of 10 hours, the new robot is one of the technologies that Ambipar has developed to combat the recurring forest fires in Brazil. The equipment, resulting from the company’s continuous investment in Research and Development, is one of the most modern and the only one in the world approved for operation in classified zones, such as the oil and gas industry.
The STW Response features several advancements that surpass the previous model produced for industry operations. With 100% Brazilian technology and development, it is made with specific materials and components, withstanding temperatures of up to 600º C for up to 15 minutes.
With a new system, the robot can be operated remotely from up to 300 meters away, with signal return via Wi-Fi. This allows the entire control room to access images and monitor the operation in real time. The equipment is equipped with front, rear, and side cameras, as well as night and thermal cameras.
The STW Response not only brings the most innovative solutions to the global emergency response market but is also directly linked to Ambipar Response’s essence of providing agile and effective solutions for addressing incidents involving hazardous and polluting materials that affect health, the environment, and property.
Ambipar’s robot also features a mobility mechanism that does not use rubber but rather an alloy of bronze and aluminum, which does not produce sparks on the ground. This makes it suitable for industrial and tank fires, allowing the machine to access a location with a fuel leak without putting anyone at risk.
As the equipment is prepared for various scenarios, it is capable of combating fires using foam, water, and dry chemical powder, utilizing a system operated by a unique rapid attack cannon that can launch up to 90kg of powder 20 meters away.
Another distinguishing feature of the STW Response is that, under pressure, it discharges up to 32,000 liters of water per minute, while a Fire Department truck typically holds between 5,000 to 15,000 liters total in the vehicle, depending on its size.
A brigade team takes about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare for a fire call, while the robot can respond immediately when the alert is activated. The equipment is also impact-resistant, capable of withstanding debris from collapsing buildings, and is equipped with a state-of-the-art lithium iron phosphate battery. This factor ensures the equipment’s durability for up to 20,000 charge and discharge cycles, in addition to being 100% recyclable.