Drones Innovate Wildfire Detection and Suppression Techniques

In a groundbreaking demonstration of technology aimed at combating wildfires, a team from the University of Maryland (UMD) showcased their drone-based system designed to detect and extinguish fires effectively. This event took place in La Plata, Maryland, where the team, known as Crossfire, participated in the XPrize competition, which seeks innovative solutions for wildfire management.

The challenge required drones to differentiate between hazardous wildfires and benign campfires. During the demonstration, a large quadcopter drone, the Alta X, was equipped with a water-filled balloon intended to extinguish flames. The drone’s mission was to hover approximately 13.5 meters above a burning stack of wood pallets and release the water balloon at the optimal moment. This task involved precise calculations by UMD’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering.

Innovative Approaches in Wildfire Response

As the drone took flight, Andrés Felipe Rivas Bolivar, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering, skillfully maneuvered it towards the fire. A secondary drone equipped with a thermal camera monitored the situation from above. Despite an initial miscalculation, where the water balloon missed the target, the team remained undeterred, demonstrating resilience in their pursuit of effective wildfire suppression.

Crossfire is one of twelve teams competing in the semifinals of the XPrize’s autonomous wildfire-suppression track. The competition’s final round is scheduled for June 2026, where teams must locate and extinguish a fire within a 1,000 square kilometer area of challenging terrain, all within a strict ten-minute timeframe. The winning team will receive a prize of $3.5 million.

The urgency of this competition is underscored by the increasing severity of wildfires globally. The devastating Camp Fire in California in November 2018, which destroyed 620 square kilometers and resulted in significant loss of life, highlighted the need for innovative solutions. Andrea Santy, program director for the wildfire competition at XPrize, emphasized that the organization aimed to address the critical issue of response time, which can often exceed one hour.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite advancements, challenges remain in the field of drone technology for firefighting. Bob Roper, a senior wildfire advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, noted that while drones have been used for reconnaissance, effective suppression remains elusive. Current drones lack the capacity to carry sufficient suppressant for significant firefighting efforts.

The Crossfire team has invested approximately $300,000 into their project, primarily funded through donations from UMD supporters. Their innovative approach involves using a water balloon that detonates mid-air, a method that could potentially reduce the amount of water required to extinguish a fire compared to traditional aerial firefighting techniques.

As the demonstration progressed, Crossfire’s system successfully identified fires using a combination of thermal and color video feeds analyzed through an open-source deep learning model known as YOLO (“You Only Look Once”). This technology enables the drone to distinguish between real threats and decoy fires, a crucial capability given the competition’s requirements.

While the first attempts to extinguish the fire were met with limited success, the team’s persistence paid off. During a later attempt, the drone successfully released its water payload, effectively extinguishing the flames. The moment was met with muted cheers from the team, highlighting their determination and collaborative spirit.

The future for Crossfire and similar initiatives looks promising, as they explore potential commercial applications for their technology. Derek Paley, an aerospace engineering professor involved with the team, has engaged with around 40 potential clients, primarily from fire departments and government agencies, to gauge interest in their system.

Despite the challenges posed by existing regulations and the need for industry-wide adoption, the visibility brought by the XPrize competition may help propel this technology forward. As the team continues to refine their approach, they express hope that innovative solutions will emerge to enhance wildfire detection and suppression capabilities.

As the world grapples with increasingly frequent wildfires, the work being done by teams like Crossfire may prove crucial in protecting lives, property, and natural resources in the years to come.