A firefighting robot got its first major test Tuesday in Los Angeles when it was put to use for the first time in the United States to battle a major blaze. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the Thermite RS3 robot was supposed to have its official public introduction in the afternoon but got called into duty a few hours early due to a blaze downtown. "It had already gotten dirty at an early morning major emergency commercial structure fire that morning - proving its value from the start," the department said. The Thermite RS3, manufactured by Textron: Howe & Howe Technologies, is a compact robotic firefighting vehicle that features a low center of gravity and wide chassis. The Los Angeles Fire Department debuted the first robotic firefighting vehicle in the United States, putting it to use on its first day in service Tuesday.