Using Drones to Fight Wildfires
The problem: Drones are already proving their effectiveness in fighting wildfires, but current military-grade aircraft cannot fly low through trees or smoke. This limitation prevents responders from getting the precise, on-the-ground intelligence they need to map hot spots and safely direct crews.
The solution: With support from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Carnegie Mellon University researchers are developing advanced drone capabilities that can fly faster, farther, and with greater resilience. The goal is to develop drones that can navigate low to the ground and even below the tree canopy, flying in low or no visibility where current technology fails.
The impact: Flying below the canopy will enable firefighters to remotely map access routes, escape routes and hot spots. The drones will be able to provide 3D reconstructions of what's happening on the ground, and can be used to collect information on forests prior to fires to help firefighters in case fires occur.
Beyond protecting the lives of first responders and civilians, the impacts of this technology include:
- Saving property and reducing costs: Providing a birds' eye view allows responders to improve their response time and prioritize sites. This leads to a reduction in property damage and offers a far more cost-effective firefighting tool than sending up manned aircraft or ground crews.
- Fueling the commercial sector: The growing commercial drone industry is already making a strong case for drone use in firefighting. NSF-supported basic research accelerates the necessary technological improvements, enabling the commercial sector to deliver more effective, resilient, and life-saving tools.
Go deeper: Robotics Institute Developing Drones to Fight Wildfires