Howe & Howe Thermite® Firefighting Robot Sports Poclain Hydraulics Transmission
As part of Textron Systems, Howe & Howe Inc. are leaders in developing advanced robotic land vehicles. Primarily serving the military and first responders, they build machines that are robust, reliable, and built for extreme conditions.
When they searched the market for a more compact pump to feed their diesel Thermite® firefighting robot, the compactness and efficiency of the Poclain Hydraulics technology won them over.
The Thermite, one of the most rugged firefighting robots on the market
With Howe & Howe’s expertise in military applications, they have built a unique model capable of driving up stairs, smashing a door, and outputting a maximum of 1,250 gallons of water per minute (a volume that would usually require four to six men to hold the hose). Its zero-turn capabilities enable it to maneuver around debris and manage tight turns in stairways.
When Howe & Howe set out to find a more compact pump to optimize the diesel Thermite set-up, Hydro-Air, their hydraulic distributor, suggested Poclain Hydraulics’ PM10 tandem pump. As for the braking function, Howe & Howe had designed a solution in-house that required regular maintenance. It is now replaced by two maintenance-free MS02 two-speed motors with an integral brake.
Poclain Hydraulics' MS02 motor and PM10 tandem pump
Poclain Hydraulics' transmission enhances the Thermite's performance
Paul Ford, Howe & Howe’s Program Manager for robotics, states, “Our first design had separate drive components, whereas the Poclain Hydraulics system has everything integrated - the hydraulic brakes and the two-speed capability. It is more robust and simplifies manufacturing and maintenance.”
Poclain Hydraulics’ heavy-duty motors and pumps bring additional benefits to the application:
- Excellent resistance to the water from the vehicle cooling system and the hose
- Lower circuit temperature. The high volumetric efficiency of the motors contributes to stabilizing the heat in the circuit
- Two-speed capability, providing better maneuverability in the slow range
The Thermite robot is a highly versatile robotic ground vehicle with a wide range of applications, from forests to oil and gas plants. This vehicle has already reached international markets with several dozen units sold in China. Exciting prospects are lying ahead, and Howe & Howe can rely on Poclain Hydraulics’ technical support and responsiveness.
