PyroBot Fire Suppression

PyroBot is an autonomous fire suppression system engineered for operation in hazardous or remote environments. It consists of a 2.5-DoF robotic turret, capable of detecting flames and autonomous delivery of fire retardant (water in our case).

As Mechanical Lead, I owned all electromechanical systems on the robot, and worked closely with the electronics lead to create the low-level computer vision required for the autonomous operation.

Outcomes

• Completion of a fully integrated, semi-autonomous fire suppression prototype with both manual and autonomous control modes.
• Successful thermal detection and event-driven suppression response tested under controlled conditions.
• Published a comprehensive final report (PDF).

Skills Demonstrated

• Computer Aided Design (CAD). Created stylish and functional 3D design using Autodesk Fusion. Integrated top-down and bottom-up assembly.
• Mechanical Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA). Optimized design for manufacturing on an FDM 3D printer. Minimized part count. Use of standardized ASME fasteners.
• Embedded Systems & Finite-State Machines. Implemented event-driven architecture on an ESP32 microcontroller. Integrated sensor input and actuator control for autonomous operation.
• Reverse Engineering. Disassembled and integrated an off-the-shelf device and created a “virtual twin” in CAD. Designed new subsystems around existing components saving time and cost.