Trailblazing tech: San Ramon Valley ‘BurnBot’ cuts fuel loads and boosts wildfire defenses

A NEW RECRUIT has joined the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, capable of things that would require an entire crew. But here’s the kicker: It’s not human.

Introducing the BurnBot, a tractor-size robot that rolls through fire-prone vegetation, grinding it into wood chips to reduce fuel loads and lower the risk of wildfires. Designed by the San Francisco-based BurnBot Inc., the machine is remotely controlled and rolls forward at up to 3.7 mph.