According to its developers, the new firefighting device, dubbed the Vortex Launcher, is a more environmentally friendly option than traditional firefighting tools like chemical foams, which tend to be toxic, and hydrants, which tend to deplete water supplies.

Instead, the new device relies on vortex rings, which are donut-shaped air bands that feature electrically charged particles.

The researchers explained that the conductive aerosols are composed of a coarse copper solution, while the rings produce short, powerful bursts of wind that transform surrounding oxygen into ozone, subsequently creating a turbulent wind that discourages combustion and rapidly extinguishes fires.

The launcher device resembles a bucket, which is worn on the arm of firefighters, its developers explained. The device reportedly includes compressed air to launch aerosol-filled vortex rings to extinguish the flames from a range of roughly 6.5 ft.

“The design of our Vortex Launcher is actually really simple in nature. One of the benefits of that simplicity is it’s also very scalable,” the team added “It’s maneuverable in tight spaces so that you can walk through doors and indoor environments, but also large enough to have the practical benefits of generating those vortex rings."

Further, the vortex rings are designed to carry chemicals greater distances than other methods, thereby enabling firefighters to stay at a safer distance from the flames. This is due to the rings’ ability to maintain their shape over a long distance.

In the future, the Vortex Launcher’s developers intend to add sensors and computer vision to the device so that it can target fires from various causes. Additionally, the researchers envision that the device could be added to military vehicles and spacecraft to protect the interiors from fire.

An article detailing the Vortex Launcher, “Firefighting with Conductive Aerosol-Assisted Vortex Rings,” appears in the journal Technologies.