OLE, το σκαθάρι πυροσβέστης (αγγλικό άρθρο)

[zweistein]

Are there really beetles which can fight forest fires? Not yet, but there will be soon. At Magdeburg-Stendal FH researchers are developing the off-road, fire-fighting beetle, OLE, which is destined to extinguish fires before they can turn into disasters. OLE is supposed to monitor large areas of forest with the help of infrared and biosensors, discover fire sources and immediately report and fight them. Scientists have constructed the robot fire-fighting beetle on the pattern of the pill millipede, an insect belonging to the centipede family. Just like centipedes OLE can roll up into a ball when danger threatens and retract its six legs. Its heat-resistant shell is made of a ceramic-fibre compound which can withstand temperatures of 1,300 degrees centigrade while protecting the sencitive technology in his insides. Two mechanical feelers help it to move safely across uneven, difficult terrain and reach the danger zone quickly. Depending on the state of the ground, OLE can scurry along at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour. The beetle fights the fire with an impulse appliance. In order to protect an area the size of the Black Forest (7,000 square kilometres) from fire, 30 insects would suffice.

source: research in germany





"OLE" - Fire fighting beetle in action Source: Background photo: photocase.com/rendering and montage: Henner Hinze/photographer: Gordon Adler, transluszent

ωραία φωτό-> http://www.research-in-germany.de/corem ... l_2Fen.jpg

"OLE" - Robotic fire fighting beetle Source: Background photo: photocase.com/rendering and montage: Henner Hinze/photographer: Gordon Adler, transluszent



Just like centipedes OLE can roll up into a ball when danger threatens and retract its six legs. Its heat-resistant shell is made of a ceramic-fibre compound which can withstand temperatures of 1,300 degrees centigrade while protecting the sensitive technology in its insides. (…) The beetle fights the fire with an impulse appliance. In order to protect an area the size of the Black Forest (7,000 square kilometres) from fire, 30 insects would suffice.
source: next nature

OLE is an autonomous robot that is currently being developed at the University of Madgeburg-Stendal in Germany, and could possibly be programmed to run through the forest at a maximum speed of 30kmh while seeking out potential forest fires by extinguishing them with an impulse appliance, thanks to the integrated biosensors and infrared detectors. Should the OLE senses itself to be at risk of being immolated, it will automatically retract its legs into its fire-resistant shell. I wonder if this will be able to report poachers in the woods as well. No idea on just how fire-resistant it can be - will it be able to survive in an inferno?
source: software headlines



ενδιαφέρων... σε κάποιες χώρες θα είναι πολύ χρήσιμο..
αλλά πολά τέτοια ρομπότ θα τρομάζουν τα ζώα του δάσους..