The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) today announced a major maritime safety breakthrough, successfully trialing the nation’s first domestically designed, AI-based autonomous firefighting system capable of detecting and precisely extinguishing oil fires on naval vessels in real sea conditions.
The new technology, developed by KIMM’s AX Convergence Research Center under the leadership of Dr. Hyuk Lee, marks a paradigm shift from conventional shipboard fire suppression, which relies on flooding entire compartments.
Unlike traditional systems that cause extensive water or foam damage and can be accidentally triggered by false alarms, this autonomous platform uses artificial intelligence to first verify the authenticity of a fire and then focus its response only on the source. This dramatically reduces collateral damage and conserves fire suppressant resources.
The system integrates a network of advanced fire detection sensors, AI analysis units, and precision fire monitors. It demonstrated over 98% detection accuracy and a foam discharge range of up to 24 meters during preliminary land-based simulations.
Proven Stability in Rough Seas
A core engineering challenge in maritime firefighting—compensating for a vessel’s motion—was overcome using reinforcement learning algorithms. These algorithms enable the system to compensate for rolling and pitching in real time, allowing stable operation even in sea states of three or higher.
The technology was subsequently tested aboard a South Korean Navy amphibious assault ship. In these rigorous sea trials, the system successfully targeted and extinguished flames 18 meters away amid one-meter waves, recalculating its nozzle angle in real time using six degrees of freedom acceleration data.
“This innovation overcomes a critical, long-standing problem in maritime safety by replacing blanket suppression with a smart, targeted response,” said Dr. Hyuk Lee. “By firing only at confirmed heat and flame signatures, the AI-based solution minimizes the risk of costly damage from false alarms while ensuring faster, more efficient, and reliable fire control for future naval and commercial fleets.”
