Design of an autonomous guardian robot for fire and hazard detection to enhance resilience and business continuity

Abstract

Fires remain a critical hazard with severe implications for safety, continuity of operations, and the protection of assets in both residential and commercial environments. Traditional detection systems, typically based on fixed sensors, provide limited coverage and cannot adapt to dynamic or obstructed spaces. This limitation has major consequences not only for individual safety but also for the continuity of essential services and the resilience of organizations and communities. Recent advances in mobile robotics highlight new opportunities for hazard detection and risk monitoring. However, most existing platforms are complex, costly, and primarily designed for industrial settings. This paper proposes the conceptual design of a compact, affordable, and autonomous mobile robot capable of detecting environmental hazards such as smoke, high temperature, toxic or flammable gases, and visible flames. The platform integrates multimodal sensing (LiDAR, gas/smoke sensors, temperature sensors, camera) with real-time data processing supported by a Raspberry Pi and STM32 microcontroller, while a dedicated web application provides instant alerts and situational awareness. The research adopts a design-oriented methodology, focusing on system modelling, component integration, and feasibility analysis through CAD simulations. Results indicate that the proposed robot can contribute to fire prevention, crisis management, and business continuity by enhancing early warning and enabling timely response. Although designed for small-scale environments such as homes and offices, its scalable architecture suggests potential applicability in critical infrastructure protection, where resilience and continuity of operations are essential. The contribution of this research lies in bridging robotics, embedded systems, and resilience studies, providing a framework that can support both academic research and practical innovation in disaster risk reduction and safety-critical systems.