The 9-1-1, the national emergency network, announced the incorporation of a smart robotic vehicle that can explore and evaluate high-risk scenarios before sending rescue personnel. The technology, called F1RVLA1S (First Intelligent Robotic Vehicle for Life-saving Assistance and Incident Support), is based on the Spot platform from Boston Dynamics and allows for recognition, information collection, and real-time image and data transmission from areas considered hazardous to the lives of responders.
Objective of the technology
The Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, explained that the objective is “to use technology as a first evaluation tool when conditions may pose a threat to the lives of responders”. According to Paliza, robotization “gains information, reduces uncertainty, and allows for better decision-making, protecting those who have the responsibility to protect others”.
Scenarios of use
The robotics will be deployed in collapsed structures, incidents with hazardous materials, industrial accidents, and search and rescue operations. In each case, the vehicle will collect information before human teams enter the area, providing critical data remotely.
Technical collaboration
In July, the 9-1-1 and Boston Dynamics initiated a technical collaboration process to evaluate the viability of the Spot platform in the country. The US company designed the Spot as a robot that moves in complex environments, equipping it with cameras and sensors that allow for remote inspections in places where human access is hazardous.
A major step in modernization
Paliza highlighted that the incorporation of this tool does not aim to replace specialized personnel, but “to provide information that allows for operations with greater security”. The initiative is part of a technological modernization process of the 9-1-1 System, which has already explored the integration of robotics, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and data analysis to strengthen emergency response and reduce personnel exposure in high-risk operations.
The Dominican Republic among the pioneers
According to the information disseminated by the authorities, with the incorporation of the F1RVLA1S platform, the Dominican Republic would become the fourth country in the Americas, along with the United States, Canada, and Brazil, to use this type of technology from Boston Dynamics within the capabilities of state institutions.
Credits: n.com.do
