Fire in Underground Parking Lot Difficult for Firefighters to Access, Firefighting Robots Take Charge

Hyundai Motor Company and Fire Agency to Develop Unmanned Firefighting Robot Next Year

Hyundai Motor Group and the National Fire Agency announced on the 26th that they will jointly develop an unmanned firefighting robot for underground fire suppression by next year.

South Korea has many underground parking lots, but when a fire breaks out, it is difficult for firefighters to enter due to smoke and heat. The unmanned firefighting robot being developed this time is based on the multipurpose unmanned vehicle developed by Hyundai Rotem, equipped with a 65mm water hose, thermal imaging camera, and spray device requested by the National Fire Agency, making it capable of fire suppression.

Hyundai Rotem’s multipurpose unmanned vehicle was first delivered to the Army in 2021 and is currently being used for pilot operations and combat experiments. Hyundai Motor Group has been seeking effective firefighting safety measures following recent electric vehicle fire incidents. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy proposed the idea, and after discussions with the National Fire Agency, it was decided to develop the robot.

Rendering image of unmanned fire-fighting robot
[Photo by Hyundai Motor Group]

In addition, 250 units of the penetrating-type spraying device EV Drill Lance, used for extinguishing electric vehicle fires, will be donated to the National Fire Agency within this year. This direct water injection method uses water pressure to drill holes into the battery pack underneath the vehicle and spray water inside the battery to cool it.

The equipment was jointly developed by the Manufacturing Solutions Headquarters, CSO Headquarters of Hyundai Motor Group, and partner companies to reduce electric vehicle extinguishing time. Tests conducted last year showed it to be effective in fire suppression.

A Hyundai Motor Group official said, "We expect this collaboration, which actively reflects the voices of firefighters on site, to become a practical measure for electric vehicle fire safety," adding, "We plan to continue cooperating with the National Fire Agency in various ways, always prioritizing the safety of the public."

Penetrating type fire suppression device EV Drill Lance used for electric vehicle fire extinguishing
[Photo by Hyundai Motor Group]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.