Hyundai Motor Group CSR Digital Magazine Unmanned Firefighting Robot

According to statistics from the National Fire Agency, a total of 1,788 firefighters were injured at fire scenes over the past 10 years as of 2024, while the combined number of firefighter fatalities and injuries has increased 3.2-fold compared to a decade ago. As industries continue to advance, new types of fires that are difficult to predict using existing data are emerging, making the protection of firefighters not just an option, but an urgent priority.

At fire scenes, firefighters constantly face life-or-death decisions. Could there a way to effectively suppress deadly fires while also protecting firefighters? Hyundai Motor Group’s Unmanned Firefighting Robot was born from this very question.

On February 24, 2026, a donation ceremony for Hyundai Motor Group’s Unmanned Firefighting Robot was held at the Capital Region 119 Special Rescue Service in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Key officials, including Chung Eui-sun, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, and Kim Seung-ryong, Commissioner of the Korea National Fire Agency, attended the event. During the ceremony, discussions were held on ways to innovate fire scene safety through advanced technology, and the robot was for field deployment. The Unmanned Firefighting Robot is a remote firefighting response system designed to enter fire scenes filled with extreme heat and dense smoke ahead of firefighters, carrying out initial fire suppression and on-site search operations. It was developed to respond to modern industrial disasters that differ significantly from those of the past — including fires at large logistics warehouses, underground facilities, and electric vehicle battery fires — while, above all, helping protect firefighters operating in hazardous environments.

Development of the Unmanned Firefighting Robot first began in 2024, with the system being completed after numerous rounds of research and testing. The fully deployed Unmanned Firefighting Robot is now actively carrying out missions with the Capital Region and Yeongnam 119 Special Rescue Services under the National 119 Rescue Headquarters, as well as the Gyeonggi and Chungnam Fire Headquarters, where large-scale industrial facilities are concentrated.

The Unmanned Firefighting Robot is the culmination of Hyundai Motor Group’s accumulated mobility and robotics technologies. Its framework is based on Hyundai Rotem’s multipurpose unmanned vehicle, the “HR-Sherpa,” providing a robust body structure and mobility optimized for fire scenes. In addition, the robot incorporates advanced steering and braking control systems developed through Hyundai and Kia’s R&D expertise, while propulsion is powered by Hyundai Mobis’s “In-Wheel Motor System,” the first of its kind developed in Korea. Thanks to the in-wheel system — which equips each of the robot’s six wheels with an independently controlled motor — the robot is capable of highly precise maneuvering even at disaster sites filled with debris and obstacles.

Advanced features that serve as the firefighters’ eyes and legs in extreme environments are among the robot’s highlights. An “AI-Enhanced Vision Camera” accurately detects fire sources and possible victims through infrared sensors and AI software, even in situations where visibility is severely limited by thick smoke and toxic gases. This information is transmitted to the control center in real time. In addition, the “Self-Spray Cooling System” keeps the vehicle body temperature below 70°C even in environments exceeding 500°C. The robot is also equipped with a powerful water cannon capable of spraying water up to 52 meters. Together, these features enable effective fire suppression while helping ensure the safety of firefighters through remote operation. The “High-Pressure Reel Hose” is another critical feature, allowing firefighters to rapidly deploy hoses and secure safe evacuation routes at fire scenes, providing crucial support for safe field operations. Throughout the robotic system, Hyundai Motor Group’s philosophy of placing firefighters’ safety above all else is embedded in every detail.

This is not the first time Hyundai Motor Group has stepped forward to support the firefighting cause. The HMG has long shown sincere support for firefighters who dedicate themselves to the front lines of disaster response. To help firefighters dispatched to emergency sites rest safely and comfortably even in extreme heat and cold, Hyundai Motor Group donated 10 “Support Bus for Firefighters' Recovery” to regional fire headquarters across the country. In addition, the Group continues to support firefighters injured in the line of duty by providing ambulances and rehabilitation equipment to the National Fire Hospital, scheduled to open in 2026 as Korea’s first national hospital dedicated exclusively to firefighters.

At the heart of Hyundai Motor Group’s vision for technology are always people. There is only one reason advanced robots enter blazing fire scenes first: to help ensure that the heroes who follow can carry out their missions safely and return to their families. On every path firefighters take as they push through darkness and return to the light, Hyundai’s heartfelt technology will stand beside them.