Robotic Nozzles Defined: A New Generation of Remote Controlled Fire Monitors & Water Cannons
The rapid pace of technological innovation is driving dramatic transformations in products and systems across nearly every industry, reshaping how they are designed, built, and operated. From manufacturing to healthcare, transportation to energy, intelligent automation and advanced engineering are redefining what is possible. It should come as no surprise, then, that the remote control fire monitor industry is also experiencing a new generation of robotic nozzles, which have reached an unprecedented level of sophistication.
The Rise of Robotic Nozzles
Since 2014, the term “robotic nozzles” began emerging to describe this new generation of what have traditionally been called remote controlled fire monitors or remote control water cannons.
But what defines robotic nozzles and how are they different from traditional remote controlled fire monitors and water cannons that they are replacing?
What Defines a Robotic Nozzle?
Unlike the predecessor generations of remote control fire monitors and water cannons, robotic nozzles are articulated robots, which meet the ISO definition of “industrial robots” (apart from being designed to manufacture). Robotic nozzles do everything a fire monitor or water cannon does, but additionally have all of the following characteristics:
- can be automatically controlled and are reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulators programmable in three or more axes;
- use integrated, brushless DC (‘BLDC’) motors (as opposed to standard brushed DC motors used by traditional monitors) to power the movement of its rotary joints;
- have integrated gears on all rotary joints;
- programmed motions or auxiliary functions may be changed without physical alterations;
- can be programmed to perform sequences of events and movements;
- have a dynamic record and playback capability;
- have high-precision accuracy of at least one-tenth (1/10th) of a degree;
- can receive inputs from other devices, which inputs are capable of affecting the robot’s behavior in a manner defined by the application, including fully autonomous fire detection and suppression at a fire’s source with intelligent and dynamic aiming to directly contain and suppress the fire at and around its source; and
- can be networked together and perform coordinated and/or synchronized operations or responses.
Key Characteristics of Robotic Nozzles
In terms of functionality, robotic nozzles possess all of the functions of traditional remote controlled monitors and water cannons, while bringing a number of other significant advantages. Among the additional and enhanced features and functionality of robotic nozzles over traditional monitors include:
- Greatly expanded control
- Extreme accuracy in the robotic nozzle’s movements
- Significantly higher torque achieved by the BLDC motors
- Higher motor efficiency and significantly reduced wear
- Increased reliability
- Much longer life expectancy (10,000 hours per motor) over traditionally-used brushed DC motors
- Advanced programming and networking capabilities
- Remote commissioning, technical support and troubleshooting capabilities
- Seamless integration with fire detection technologies and other systems and peripheral devices
- Ability to be controlled over LAN and WAN connections, allowing control from anywhere in the world using a simple-to-use graphical user interface over any modern browser
- Ability to control them by an app for iOS/Android
- Precision setting and programming of the robotic nozzle’s ranges of motion in all axes and robotic nozzle tips as well
- Additional digital and analogue inputs and outputs in the system’s electronics for connection with other systems & peripheral devices
- Reduced noise
(For still further detailed information about the many advantages of brushless motors over brushed motors, see Wikipedia.)
Applications Across Industries
Because of these advantages, robotic nozzles are now beginning to replace remote-controlled monitors and water cannons in all of their traditional markets. These include firefighting applications of every kind, wash-down and dust suppression in mining operations, fountains, large animal cleaning at zoos, and marine and off-shore applications, among others.
In addition, robotic nozzles are opening doors to entirely new advanced systems—solutions that were previously too expensive, cumbersome, impractical, or even impossible to implement until now.
Unifire’s Leadership in Robotic Nozzles
Unifire AB of Sweden is a global leader in the manufacturing of robotic nozzles and fully autonomous robotic fire suppression systems (called FlameRanger™) comprising robotic nozzles and flame detectors, thermal imaging cameras, video analytics, linear optical fibre heat detection and others. According to Unifire, the system is capable of automatically detecting a fire, finding and tracking its position in real time and in three dimensions, and intelligently guiding the nozzles to spray water or foam with precision onto the fire and its immediate surroundings. Unifire has developed and tested FlameRanger since 2010 and is the world leader in autonomous robotic fire suppression systems and has sold them on 5 continents.
Unifire’s robotic nozzles can be controlled from their ONE™ app for iOS and Android devices as well as by any computer web browser over a secure network from anywhere in the world via Unifire’s ONE virtual joystick.
The Future of Fire Suppression
Due to their many advantages over conventional fire monitors and water cannons, robotic nozzles have seen rapid adoption since 2014, steadily replacing traditional brushed-motor systems at an accelerating pace. Their precision, reliability, and advanced integration capabilities are enabling entirely new applications that were once impractical or impossible to achieve. From autonomous firefighting to choreographed fountains to industrial safety and smart infrastructure, robotic nozzles are no longer just an incremental improvement—they represent a fundamental shift in how fires and hazards are controlled.
Unifire AB of Sweden stands at the forefront of this transformation. As a global leader in robotic nozzles and autonomous robotic fire suppression systems, Unifire has pioneered innovations such as the FlameRanger™, capable of detecting, tracking, and suppressing fires in real time with unmatched precision. With proven installations across six continents and seamless control through its ONE™ App iOS/Android remote control and ONE™ Web virtual joysticks, Unifire continues to redefine what is possible in advanced fire protection.
Looking ahead, the continued convergence of robotics, intelligent detection, and networked control promises to push the boundaries of fire suppression even further. As industries demand faster, smarter, and more reliable protection, robotic nozzles are poised to become the new global standard for safety, efficiency, and innovation.
For more information, contact Unifire AB.
