“First In, Last Out”

Entering hazardous sites first and staying until the very end. An advanced unmanned firefighting robot that moves in place of firefighters amid flames and explosion risks has made its debut. It is “FIRO,” a next-generation disaster response robot unveiled by the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters (Gyeonggi Fire).

Gyeonggi Fire held a demonstration of the unmanned firefighting robot “FIRO” at the Gyeonggi Fire Service Academy on May 6, presenting a future-oriented disaster response system. The demonstration went beyond a simple equipment introduction and was conducted as an integrated response drill simulating an actual fire scene, drawing attention.

“FIRO” is a portmanteau of “FIRE” and “ROBOT.” Gyeonggi Fire gave it this new name to signify a new field colleague that is deployed first to hazardous disaster sites. While existing firefighting equipment has been centered on human operation, FIRO is closer to the concept of an “unmanned field crew member” that moves in place of firefighters in high-heat, explosion, and collapse-risk areas.


FIRO was jointly developed by the National Fire Agency and Hyundai Motor Group. Gyeonggi Province was selected last year as one of only two pilot operation sites among fire headquarters nationwide and thus moved quickest to introduce it in the field. FIRO was subsequently deployed to Hwaseong Fire Station in March this year, where it underwent about seven weeks of actual field adaptation training.

During the demonstration, FIRO stably carried out a range of tasks, from high-speed driving via remote control to fire suppression and search for people in environments filled with dense smoke. The scene in which the robot first entered a space filled with black smoke to locate rescue targets using a thermal imaging camera and then subdued the seat of the fire with powerful water discharge highlighted a tangible shift in future disaster response.

FIRO’s performance is assessed as exceeding that of existing firefighting equipment. Equipped with an infrared (IR) camera and thermal imaging capabilities, it can identify the fire’s point of origin and the locations of people even in thick smoke where visibility is limited. In high-temperature environments, it can reduce its own body temperature through an onboard spraying function, enabling long-duration operations.

Mobility is also a strength. It can discharge high-pressure water at up to 2,650L per minute over a distance of up to 50 meters, and can travel at speeds of up to 50km/h while towing a firefighting hose weighing as much as 400kg. It is also designed to surmount obstacles up to 30cm high, enabling it to cope with the irregular conditions of actual fire scenes.

Gyeonggi Fire expects FIRO to play a role at disaster scenes where access by firefighters is difficult, such as large factory fires, underground spaces, and areas at risk of collapse. By identifying risk factors ahead of personnel entry and initially suppressing fires, FIRO is also expected to significantly help ensure firefighter safety.

“The unmanned firefighting robot FIRO is a new field colleague that will confront danger first,” said Choi Yong-cheol, acting head in charge of duties at the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters. “It will be continuously advanced so that it can serve as the eyes and shield of firefighters at actual fire scenes.”

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