The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is making significant strides in the development of drones to combat wildfires, a crucial need highlighted by the devastating fires that engulfed parts of Canada last summer.
Led by a team of researchers including Andrew Jong and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, these drones offer a promising solution to provide firefighters with real-time situational awareness during wildfires that can cover vast areas and experience rapid changes in intensity and direction.
The current high-altitude drones used in firefighting are limited in their ability to navigate through smoke, prompting the RI team to develop autonomous drones capable of flying just above or below the canopy to map out access routes, escape paths, and hot spots. Using a combination of sensors, including infrared and visible light cameras, along with radar and artificial intelligence, these drones aim to provide critical information to firefighters to enhance firefighting tactics, improve fire science understanding, and ultimately save lives.
Josh Wilkins, a retired firefighter collaborating with the CMU team, emphasized the urgent need for better information for firefighters, highlighting past tragedies where lack of actionable information resulted in fatal consequences.
The research team is also working on informative path finding techniques for drones to maximize information gathered during flights, which can be applicable not only to firefighting but also search and rescue operations.
By partnering with organizations like the Pennsylvania Game Commission to test their technologies during controlled burns, the RI team is actively working to enhance the capabilities of these drones for real-world applications. The ultimate goal is to equip firefighters with the tools they need to navigate through challenging environments, assess risks, and make informed decisions that can save lives and protect communities.
With a focus on safety and data accuracy, these firefighting drones offer a promising solution to address the evolving challenges posed by wildfires, paving the way for more efficient and effective firefighting strategies in the future.
