The possibilities of using robotic technologies for conducting fire-technical examinations
Authors:   All-Russian Research Institute of Fire Protection of EMERCOM of Russia, Bagaev Yu. A. , Nikolaev S. Yu. ,   All-Russian Research Institute of Fire Protection of EMERCOM of Russia, Matorina O. S. ,   All-Russian Research Institute of Fire Protection of EMERCOM of Russia, Meretukova O. G. ,   All-Russian Research Institute of Fire Protection of EMERCOM of Russia, Nesterova S. V. ,   All-Russian Research Institute of Fire Protection of EMERCOM of Russia
Published: December 2021

Introduction. The use of special purpose robotic systems (hereinafter referred to as RTC) has recently received considerable attention around the world, and the Russian Federation is no exception. In the national program and target documents, special emphasis is placed, among other things, on the issues of improving the special-purpose resource base, mainly for solving technological problems that are relevant to modern RTCs of various classes. However, there is a need for the use of RTС in order to minimize the risk to the life and health of direct participants in expert activities at high-risk facilities. Goals and objectives. The purpose of this article is to study the possibilities and develop solutions for the use of robotic technologies for fire and technical expertise. To achieve this goal, first, the institute of fire and technical expertise, its role and purpose in the system of the EMERCOM of Russia was studied; second, foreign experience in the development, experimental testing and real practice of using special-purpose RTCs at high-risk facilities was studied; third, a local comparative analysis of the technical characteristics and capabilities of foreign and domestic RTCs was conducted. Methods. When undertaking a study on the issue under consideration, general scientific, particular and special methods of studying technological phenomena and processes were used: retrospective, logical, analytical, systemic and structural, analysis and synthesis, deduction and induction. Results and discussion. The authors have formulated proposals on the structure and mechanism of functioning of the special-purpose RTC for conducting fire-technical expertise at high-risk facilities with minimal risk for participants in this activity. The possibility of technical improvement of domestic RTCs for the effective implementation of the tasks set and ensuring the safety of specialists of expert organizations when working at facilities (territories) with the risk of collapse of building structures or in conditions of radiation, chemical, biological contamination of the area is also justified. Conclusion. In the context of the relevance and practical significance of solving the issues of using special-purpose robotic systems for conducting fire-technical expertise, there are currently difficulties in integrating various software and technical tools for performing key expert tasks at protection facilities with the risk of collapse of building structures or in conditions of radiation, chemical, biological contamination of the area in the Russian Federation. Their reduction will allow us to achieve significantly greater results and meet the social demand for the development of appropriate solutions, which is extremely high at this point in time. Keywords: robotic systems, fire and technical expertise, high-risk objects, emergencies, radiation contamination, biological contamination, chemical contamination