AI Firefighting Drones Are Giving Crews a New Tool Against Wildfires
Alexis Thornton
2 hours agoOne of the most difficult aspects of containing a wildfire is that the flames don’t wait for humans to catch up. A blaze can spread rapidly across difficult terrain, shift direction as winds change, and produce conditions too dangerous for firefighters to enter. By the time crews know exactly where a fire is and how quickly it is moving, the situation may already have changed. However, the same technology that is changing how you interact with your cell phone is offering firefighters another option.
Researchers, tech companies, and emergency agencies are experimenting with drones equipped with artificial intelligence, cameras, sensors, and other systems that can identify fires, monitor their movement, and potentially help crews determine where to concentrate their efforts. The technology isn’t designed to replace firefighters. Instead, it could give them something they have always needed during a wildfire: better information, available faster.
Drones Can Go Where People Can't
One of the biggest advantages of AI firefighting drones is the fact that they can go where humans cannot. Drones can fly over areas that may be too dangerous for people to enter, making it possible to extinguish flames closer to their source. A drone can also reach locations that are difficult to access from the ground, including steep slopes, remote wilderness, and areas cut off by fire.
Traditional aircraft already play an important role in wildfire control. Helicopters and airplanes provide information about a fire’s intensity and direction while also providing a path to extinguish the flames from above. Smaller drones may be able to operate closer to the fire and reach areas that larger aircraft with human pilots cannot safely get to.