Robots join the London Fire Brigade
Army robots, which were used to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, have become fire-fighters on their return to the UK.The bots - which were used to detonate bombs in Afghanistan - have been converted and are now being used to tackle dangerous fires across London.
Defence company Qinetiq say the robots will protect fire fighters and minimise disruption to travellers by reducing delays on major transport systems.
After assessing the risk, LFB officers can call out the team of robots some of which range from a small, stair-climbing unit which has video and thermal image cameras to ones with water hoses and giant claws on.
However not everyone is happy, women say the chunks of metal don't have the same appeal as a buff firemen ... and the bots don't give a damn about cats stuck in trees.
A spokesperson for Qinetiq said: "A robot based service is being used to help fight fires and support other major incidents."This initiative is funded jointly by Network Rail, the Highways Agency and Transport for London, in collaboration with the London Fire Brigade.
"The two year contract currently covers incidents within Greater London and surrounding counties but national coverage is possible with additional funding and extended call out times."
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