While assessing the challenges associated with the fire loss, Donan recalled a conference where he met representatives from iRobot, a company that specializes in robotic technology. "I thought to myself, why couldn't a robot work for this investigation?" Donan recalls.  "There was only one problem.  We didn't have a robot."

After in-depth discussions with Kim Monti, senior product manager at iRobot, Donan purchased the iRobot 510 PackBot. Monti describes the 510 PackBot as "a modular, multi-mission robot" that can accommodate a wide range of accessories and has been extensively field tested. More than 4,500 units have been delivered worldwide, most for use in military and law enforcement capacities like screening vehicles and structures for explosives and neutralizing bombs. 

The PackBot has cameras in several locations to capture both still images and video. The video includes first-person views of what the robot is "seeing," as well as images of the robot itself, all of which are relayed back to the operational control unit (OCU) in real time. In New York, the operator was David Fletcher of iRobot, who explained that "just like in a first-person video game, I've got to be able to see the machine and its surroundings to maneuver it effectively."  The connection between the robot and the OCU is a wireless radio connection, according to Monti who confirmed that internet access is not required for operation. "The PackBot is designed for use in rugged terrain, so it can't rely on wireless internet or 4G."

Treads and flippers enable the robot to navigate diverse terrain, including rolling over rubble and going up and down stairs. A three-link arm can carry items up to 12 pounds at full extension and 30 pounds at closer range, which is useful for clearing debris and retrieving evidence. Both of these features were essential for the investigation.  The PackBot moved over and around piles of debris from the fire, and traveled downstairs to the basement in order to document all areas of concern.  The robot also located and retrieved the alarm panel from the first floor, which was one of the primary objectives for the inspection.

When asked about the cost of the robot, Donan characterized the investment as "significant," indicating an out-of-the-box price in the low six figures, but added that "the applications for the property claims industry are extensive" with fire investigations being a prime example. 

While the client did not disclose what they paid for the investigation, they confirmed that the results were worth the price. "When it comes to large losses, carriers want to get things right and answer all the questions they can.  There were things that needed to be seen on the first floor and in the basement, but the structure wasn't stable, so their options were limited.  Partnering with us to use the PackBot enabled them to get high-quality images and video quickly and safely, at a fraction of the cost of manual demolition," Donan explained.

Close-up video and photographs of the electrical service panel and smoke detectors located in the basement were also obtained by the robot. Images showed the electrical box on the first floor as mostly intact with no surrounding burn patterns to suggest it was the origin of the fire.  Investigation of the basement showed burn patterns around a work area where interviews with employees confirmed that they had been working prior to the fire and had disposed of items in the trashcan located where the images suggested the fire originated. 

Local authorities closed the case citing several possible accidental causes – with the items in the trashcan being one. Donan was pragmatic in their assessment. "When a loss is covered, the insurance company pays the claim. If there is subrogation potential, they pursue it.  That's what it means to be a responsible insurer," explained Ray Baker, Donan's regional fire manager. "By working with Donan to use the robot, they got conclusive answers in a safe manner, saved significant time and expense, and provided better service to their insured."

Donan said the policyholder was impressed by the entire process. "You have this building that means the world to you and it burns down and you want to know what happened," said Donan, adding that the structural issues with the building made the insured uncertain whether a cause could be identified. "Then your insurance company goes to extraordinary lengths to get you an answer.  They actually brought in a robot! Nothing changes the fact that they lost this place and its history, but at least we were able to assist in determining why."

Based on the robot's success in New York, Donan is working with carriers to better understand when and how this technology can be used. Instances of compromised structural integrity are at the top of the list.  Fire origin and cause determinations can be difficult if investigators can't look for burn patterns, collect evidence or document a scene.  Even when the cause of the damage is known – for instance, an earthquake – questions related to subrogation may require visual assessment.  Applications also exist for investigating confined spaces, detecting hazardous materials and working in hazardous environments. 

"Maybe it's a minefield, maybe it's a meth lab or maybe it's just a burnt warehouse that may collapse at any moment, but there are certain situations where it's not safe to send a person in.  That's true for the authorities and for our military and for people in our industry as well.  In those instances, using a robot adds real value," Donan said.

Professional engineer Matthew Kenney joined Donan's Component Testing Laboratory in 2008 and began leading the company's research and development effort on UAVs in early 2013.  Operating unmanned ground vehicles and exploring their application in investigations was a natural extension of that role. 

Asked about the difficulty associated with controlling the PackBot, Kenney said, "They (iRobot) make it pretty easy to operate. The controller looks and feels just like an Xbox controller and there are lots of preset positions so you don't have to manually do every little thing." Even so, he estimates he spent at least 200 hours practicing before he operated the robot in the field for a client. "It's not enough to be able to do what you need to," Kenney explained.  "You have to be efficient; you have to be an expert."

The New York fire was one example of how out-of-the-box thinking resulted in an innovative solution to a very real problem. Robots and other unmanned vehicles can be deployed in places where determining a cause of loss was once a dangerous or arduous undertaking due to structural or environmental threats.