Colossus

A red robotic vehicle the size of a small tank blasts water on a fire while two human firefighters observe. — Colossus works with firefighters. Photo: Shark Robotics

Colossus is a versatile remote-controlled robot designed to support firefighters and first-responders in dangerous missions. With a high-pressure water cannon and powerful all-terrain treads, it can help extinguish fires, clear away debris, and evacuate victims.

Creator

Shark Robotics

Year

2017

Country

France 🇫🇷

Categories

Disaster Response

Features

Colossus in action. Video: Shark Robotics

Did you know?

Colossus assisted the Paris Fire Brigade in fighting a fire at Notre Dame Cathedral on the night of 15 April 2019.

A firefighter and the robot stand outside a building. — The robot helped fight a fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

History

Shark Robotics announced Colossus in 2017. The French company spent several years to develop the technology and make it suitable for real firefighting situations. Shark engineers worked with the Paris Fire Brigade to understand how the robot would be helpful in a real fire and the dangers involved. Shark built Colossus to be as modular as possible: If the firefighters need to transport a heavy hose or bring a human victim to safety, the robot can take on a new form in less than 30 seconds. The robot is always being piloted remotely by a firefighter trained to operate the machine, which does the lifting, dragging, carrying, and the more dangerous tasks that would be a risk for humans. In 2019, Colossus helped Paris firefighters battle the massive blaze that consumed parts of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Two photos show the robot inside a burning cathedral. — Inside Notre Dame, Colossus extinguished flames and cleared away debris. Photos: Shark Robotics

Specs

Overview: Payload capacity of up to 550 kg. Traction capacity of 2 metric tons. Able to drive over challenging terrain and climb stairs. Easy to pilot with three remote control options available: handheld controller, vehicle-mounted control station, and smartphone/tablet app. Modular design and integration with different types of water cannon (POK, AWG, TFT). Optional modules: Smoke extraction fan, manipulation arm, stretcher, motorized bull-bar, basket to transport equipment. Low maintenance. Waterproof IP code IP67.
Status: Ongoing
Year: 2017
Website: shark-robotics.com
Width: 78 cm
Height: 76 cm
Length: 160 cm
Weight: 485 kg
Speed: 3.5 km/h
Sensors: Motorized pan-tilt-zoom day/night HD camera, thermal camera, advanced thermometer. Optional: HazMat and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) sensors.
Actuators: Two 4000-W dc motors to power tracks
Degrees of Freedom (DoF): 7 (Tracks: 2 DoF; Camera mount: 2 DoF; Water cannon: 3 DoF)
Materials: Aluminum-welded aeronautical steel chassis, waterproof and heat-resistant
Compute: Custom computer. Radio module with dual frequency (433 and 870 MHz) and range of 500 meters with line-of-sight and 200 meters inside buildings.
Power: Six 29.8-V 46-Ah lithium-ion batteries, 6 to 8 hours of operation
Cost: €130,000 to 200,000 (depending on optional modules)