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A groundbreaking AI-powered fire suppression system is set to transform how naval ships combat onboard fires, combining artificial intelligence with motion-compensating precision to extinguish flames even as vessels move through rough seas.
Developed using advanced reinforcement learning algorithms, the system can locate and suppress fires from up to 24 meters away. The system is developed by Senior Researcher Hyuk Lee and his team at Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials’s (KIMM) AX Convergence Research Center. The team had to complete their trials on-board a real naval vessel.
By integrating multiple sensors, cameras, and adaptive control software, it calculates the constantly changing pitch, roll, and yaw of a ship to adjust its targeting in real time. The nozzle automatically directs a focused jet of suppressant toward the fire, maintaining accuracy even in extreme conditions.
During testing, it successfully put out a 4.5-square-meter open fire and tackled a shielded fire under a structure the size of a helicopter. These outcomes demonstrated its capability to handle challenging fire situations at sea.
Later on, real-ship tests were carried out on the ROKS Ilchulbong, an LST-II class amphibious assault ship. In that setting, the system effectively targeted an oil fire from 18 meters away, even amidst one-meter-high waves.
“This newly developed initial suppression firefighting system for shipboard oil fires is the world’s first technology to complete step-by-step verification from land-based simulation facilities to actual shipboard environments,” said Senior Researcher Hyuk Lee of KIMM. “It can autonomously respond to the most dangerous oil fires on ships in both open and shielded conditions, marking a groundbreaking turning point for crew safety and preserving the ship’s combat effectiveness.”
The AI detects fires through thermal imaging and optical sensors, then rapidly classifies their intensity and optimal suppression strategy. Unlike manual firefighting equipment, this system autonomously adapts to ship motion, ensuring steady aim and effective coverage. Engineers designed it to function with minimal human input, giving crews more time to focus on containment and evacuation efforts.
