'Protect our brave firefighters,' University of Texas students create firefighting robot

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- University of Texas students created a robot that can help protect firefighters. Their startup is called Paradigm Robotics.

The technology is meant to assist with search and rescues in structure fires or other dangerous situations.

Just last week, the Austin Fire Department reported two firefighters were injured after searching for a person inside a house fire.

The invention is called FireBot.

FireBot

Founder Siddharth Thakur said fire departments around the country are testing the robot.

"World's first high temperature resistant, un-manned," Thakur said. "So think remotely controlled search and rescue robot, designed to enter structural fires or other hazardous situations and provide life-saving, mission-critical situational awareness."

As a UT student, Thakur is familiar with Central Texas' active fire season. So, he's had conversations with local fire departments to get their feedback on the robot.

"We collaborate very, very closely with Austin Fire Department, as well as Round Rock Fire Department and Travis County Fire Rescue."

Siddharth Thakur, FireBot Founder

'Fire service is changing rapidly'

Austin Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Holmes said they went to UT's campus to check out the technology.

"They're creating a piece of technology that could maybe assist with firefighters doing a search in a building," Holmes said.

Holmes said AFD has its own team of firefighters who specialize in drone operations. They are called the RED Team.

"We do utilize drones on fire footage," Holmes said. "In fact, I think a couple of months ago we use the drones on a big four alarm fire."

Holmes said AFD is always looking for things that can make their job easier and better.

"The fire service is changing rapidly. The hazards that we're facing are changing and evolving."

Battalion Chief Matt Holmes, Austin Fire Department

Paradigm Robotics hopes to be that next tool that the department uses.

"I've been motivated on a mission to build a solution to help protect our brave firefighters," Thakur said.

Thakur said they plan on piloting and beta testing the FireBot this summer. He said the team is talking with Georgetown Fire and Rescue this week about the technology.