NASA-funded technology is now being utilized by Southern Manatee Fire Rescue’s hazmat team in Manatee County. Southern Manatee Fire Rescue employs robots originally designed for planet exploration to enhance firefighter safety. These robots, equipped with multi-gas sensors, can be deployed remotely via drones or manually, transmitting data back to the command center through radio frequency. This data helps assess disasters, crashes, and fires before human crews are sent in.