Fire Extinguisher Robot

Abstract

A wireless, vision-based fire extinguisher robot is designed and developed using an ESP32 microcontroller and a normal USB camera module. The robot operates in two modes: manual mode, controlled remotely through a WiFi dashboard, and autonomous mode, where it roams and automatically extinguishes detected fire. The camera feed is processed (on an external processor or ESP-based module) to detect fire via color and pixel intensity analysis. Upon detection, the ESP32 triggers a relay to activate a 12V water pump for a fixed duration, while a motor driver (L298N motor driver) controls two BO-type DC motors to steer the robot. This design removes dependence on IR sensors and Bluetooth modules, enhancing detection accuracy, operational range, and safety. The entire system is powered by a 12V battery with regulated 5V/3.3V supply, making the robot portable and suitable for indoor or small-scale industrial environments. The project demonstrates an effective, low-cost solution for automated fire detection and suppression, combining real-time vision, IoT control, and mechanical actuation. This project integrates computer vision, robotics, and IoT-based control to create an intelligent fire-extinguishing system. Unlike conventional fire detection methods that rely on IR or flame sensors, this robot uses a USB camera for real-time image capture, ensuring higher accuracy and wider detection coverage. The captured video is processed externally, and the fire detection signal is transmitted to the ESP32, which controls the robot’s movement and activates the extinguishing mechanism. The WiFi dashboard provides a user-friendly interface to manually operate the robot or monitor its autonomous activity. By combining powerful components such as ESP32, BO motors, L298N motor driver, relay module, and a 12V water pump, the system becomes efficient, portable, and capable of fast response. This approach offers improved safety for humans by allowing remote operation in hazardous areas and demonstrates how smart automation can assist in emergency situations.

Introduction

The IoT-Enabled Fire Extinguisher Robot is designed to detect and extinguish fires automatically while reducing human involvement in dangerous environments. The system uses an ESP32 microcontroller as its main control unit and a USB camera for real-time fire detection using computer-vision techniques based on flame color and intensity.

The robot operates in two modes: Manual Mode and Autonomous Mode. In manual mode, users can remotely control the robot's movement and water pump through a Wi-Fi-based dashboard. In autonomous mode, the camera detects fire, and the ESP32 activates a relay module to operate the 12V water pump for 10 seconds.

The robot uses BO motors and an L298N motor driver for movement in different directions. A 12V battery supplies power to the system, while buck converters provide the required voltage to electronic components.

The project successfully integrates IoT, computer vision, embedded systems, and robotics to develop a portable, low-cost, and efficient firefighting solution. It helps improve fire response, reduce human exposure to hazardous situations, and demonstrates the potential of automated fire detection and suppression systems. Future improvements may include obstacle avoidance, better fire detection accuracy, and advanced autonomous navigation.

Conclusion

The IoT-enabled Fire Extinguisher Robot successfully demonstrates an efficient and cost-effective approach to fire detection and suppression by integrating computer vision, embedded systems, and IoT technologies. The system uses an ESP32 microcontroller and a USB camera to detect fire in real time through image-processing techniques. It supports both manual and autonomous modes, allowing users to control the robot remotely through a Wi-Fi dashboard or respond automatically to detected fire. The L298N motor driver and BO motors enable movement in multiple directions, while the relay module controls the water pump for fire suppression. The 12V battery and buck converters provide the required power to the system components. Overall, the project aims to reduce human involvement in hazardous firefighting situations, improve response efficiency, and provide a portable solution for fire emergencies. In the future, the system can be enhanced by incorporating advanced fire detection algorithms, obstacle avoidance, improved navigation, and a larger water storage capacity to improve its performance and reliability in real-world environments.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Geeta B H, Sindhu B K, Gurubasava R, Snehit , Dr. Prakash K M. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.