<p>A fire-fighting robot that can sweep away obstacles and clear smoke from burning buildings is the latest weapon being used to fight fires in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state.</p>.<p><br />NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliot and Fire and Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins unveiled the country's first remote-controlled firefighting robot, the Turbine Aided Firefighting machine (TAF 20) on Thursday, ABC reported.<br /><br />The TAF 20 has bulldozer blades capable of moving cars out of the way and a high-powered fan to blow away smoke.<br /><br />It can also spray water mist or foam from 60 metres and blast water for 90 metres.<br />The robot will be based at Alexandria in inner Sydney and can be quickly deployed by road or air to where it is needed, Commissioner Mullins said.</p>.<p><br />"It can be remotely operated up to 500 metres away and sent into situations where it is too dangerous for firefighters, which is a huge advantage as the safety of firefighters is my highest priority," he said.</p>.<p><br />The robot costs 310,000 Australian dollars (about $226,248) and was made and imported from Germany.<br /><br />There is already one in use in Germany and one in Mexico.<br /><br />It was put to the test last week at a Botany factory fire in Sydney, where Elliot said it proved its effectiveness.<br /><br />"It will be of great use for our firefighters in battling other large and complex fires, including bushfires," Elliot added.</p>
<p>A fire-fighting robot that can sweep away obstacles and clear smoke from burning buildings is the latest weapon being used to fight fires in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state.</p>.<p><br />NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliot and Fire and Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins unveiled the country's first remote-controlled firefighting robot, the Turbine Aided Firefighting machine (TAF 20) on Thursday, ABC reported.<br /><br />The TAF 20 has bulldozer blades capable of moving cars out of the way and a high-powered fan to blow away smoke.<br /><br />It can also spray water mist or foam from 60 metres and blast water for 90 metres.<br />The robot will be based at Alexandria in inner Sydney and can be quickly deployed by road or air to where it is needed, Commissioner Mullins said.</p>.<p><br />"It can be remotely operated up to 500 metres away and sent into situations where it is too dangerous for firefighters, which is a huge advantage as the safety of firefighters is my highest priority," he said.</p>.<p><br />The robot costs 310,000 Australian dollars (about $226,248) and was made and imported from Germany.<br /><br />There is already one in use in Germany and one in Mexico.<br /><br />It was put to the test last week at a Botany factory fire in Sydney, where Elliot said it proved its effectiveness.<br /><br />"It will be of great use for our firefighters in battling other large and complex fires, including bushfires," Elliot added.</p>