Chinese robot dogs tackle fires and toxic leaks to protect rescuers

# Chinese robot dogs tackle fires and toxic leaks to protect rescuers Source: [https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/chinese-robot-dogs-take-on-fires](https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/chinese-robot-dogs-take-on-fires) Chinese startup DEEP Robotics is expanding the use of quadruped and wheeled\-legged robots in firefighting and emergency response, aiming to keep human teams out of hazardous areas during initial assessments\. The company is deploying its X30 quadruped and Lynx M20 wheeled\-legged platform in reconnaissance operations involving fires, chemical leaks, collapsed structures and flooded tunnels\. The robots are designed to enter dangerous environments first, collect real\-time information on conditions and relay data to command teams\. Once an area is assessed, they can also support responders by providing communications links and transporting equipment, extending their role beyond initial reconnaissance\. Recently, DEEP Robotics’ robots[helped](https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/chinese-robot-dog-tracks-tibetan-antelopes)monitor Tibetan antelopes at China’s high\-altitude Serling Tso reserve, where herds return with calves from July to September\. ## Robots transform firefighting DEEP’s new emergency response system centers on the X30 quadruped, which acts as a mobile reconnaissance platform\. Equipped with a dual\-spectrum[camera](https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/new-camera-identifies-objects-200x-faster)and 3D LiDAR, it can map interiors in real time, detect potential fire sources and monitor fire conditions\. According to the firm, the robot’s multi\-gas sensors can also identify dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen chloride, giving responders critical information without requiring them to enter contaminated areas\. The X30 can also be configured for firefighting\. A water\-cannon payload supports both water and foam, with a maximum range of 60 meters and a flow rate of up to 40 liters per second\. Other X30 units can transport equipment such as hoses, air tanks and breaching tools, reducing the physical burden on firefighters during repeated trips into hazardous areas\. Communications are another part of the[robotic](https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/hyundai-persona-humanoid-robot-welding-shipyard)system\. When cellular connectivity becomes unreliable inside buildings, tunnels or underground spaces, robots can establish a self\-organizing mesh network to maintain links between field units and command teams\. This allows reconnaissance data and video feeds to continue reaching operators even in communication dead zones\. ## Robots tackle hazards DEEP claims the X30 platform is designed for environments where conventional wheeled or tracked robots can struggle\. Its quadruped legs let it negotiate stairs, debris, and uneven surfaces; the X30 can climb slopes and stairs up to 45 degrees and clear obstacles up to 7\.9 inches \(20 centimeters\) high\. Its IP67\-rated enclosure supports operation from \-4°F to 131°F \(\-20°C to 55°C\), allowing deployment across a wide range of outdoor and industrial conditions\. DEEP Robotics is also using the Lynx M20 wheeled\-legged robot for scenarios where greater speed is useful on relatively flat terrain\. The platform can travel in wheeled mode before switching to legged movement when surfaces become rough or obstructed\. Both platforms connect to a cloud\-based command system that supports low\-latency remote control, real\-time mapping, AI\-based recognition, and point\-cloud visualization\. Standard API interfaces allow the collected data to be integrated with existing incident\-management systems\. According to DEEP, the technology has been tested in high\-rise fire drills, tunnel emergencies and hazardous\-material scenarios, including operations involving chemical leaks, tanker fires and simulated structural collapses\. The X30 has also been deployed outside emergency response, including underground power\-tunnel inspections, where robots can identify cracks, water seepage and other hazards\. Together, the technologies position DEEP Robotics’ robots as remote sensing and intervention platforms designed to give emergency crews a clearer view of dangerous environments while reducing the need for humans to enter them first\.  Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science \- delivered daily to your inbox\. Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India\. Armed with a BA in History \(Honors\) from St\. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines\. In his spare time, he likes to go off\-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages\.