Geneva firefighters integrate Shark Robotics’ Colossus robots into operations

Geneva firefighters deploy Colossus robots for high-risk firefighting support

The Geneva Fire and Rescue Service (SIS) has recently enhanced its operational capabilities by adding two new Colossus firefighting robots, aptly named Wall-e and Eve. Provided by Shark Robotics, these robots bring significant safety and efficiency improvements to firefighting operations in Geneva, offering critical support in high-risk situations. Part of Shark Robotics’ suite of Application Firefighting Robots, the Colossus platform enables safer, more effective responses in extreme conditions.

Arriving in July, Wall-e and Eve have already demonstrated their value to Geneva’s firefighters. Specifically designed for hazardous environments, the Colossus robots assist with fires in difficult areas like warehouses, tunnels, and contaminated zones. They can carry out essential tasks, including creating safe paths for firefighters, reducing heat in fire-prone areas, and managing situations that would otherwise expose human personnel to substantial danger.

To operate these robots, SIS firefighters use a tablet with a range of up to one kilometer, allowing them to manage the robots from a safe distance. Seven firefighters are currently trained, and the SIS plans to train an additional 20 personnel to operate the Colossus, ensuring maximum support across various scenarios. As Geneva SIS communications officer Nicolas Millot highlights, these robots are an “extraordinary evolution” for the team, securing environments and allowing firefighters to focus on the critical aspects of each mission.

While the Colossus robots significantly enhance safety, they are designed to assist, not replace, firefighters. These robots take on tasks that would otherwise increase the risk to human personnel, allowing firefighters to concentrate on tactical response while minimizing exposure to hazardous conditions. “We will always need firefighters,” Millot notes, “but these devices support and relieve them in the most dangerous situations.”

This step forward for the Geneva SIS demonstrates how advanced technology, like Application Firefighting Robots, can be effectively integrated into emergency response operations, blending human expertise with robotics to enhance the safety and efficiency of firefighting efforts.

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