UAV System for fire recognition & suppression
UAV System for fire recognition & suppression
Every year, due to climate change and human-caused accidents, wildfires take place in many regions of the planet. According to NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center), 2019 counted 50477 wildfires, burning 4,664,364 acres. To name a few recent disasters: Australia, Amazon Rainforest, Portugal, Siberia and California. Wildfires reach vast dimensions, causing disasters for the environment, infrastructures high-cost damages, harm to flora/fauna and firefighters. The drone industry has expanded over the years in different fields, including first AID response. It has been proven that these technologies increase safety on-field and present a cost-effective solution. Drones can fly closer to high-risk areas where sensors can detect hidden spot fires.
Objectives:
The aim is to present a conceptual system for wildfire response using drone’s technology. The concept has the purpose of first AID on field, by collecting data and contain the fire area by spraying extinguishing liquids.
Every year, due to climate change and human-caused accidents, wildfires take place in many regions of the planet. According to NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center), 2019 counted 50477 wildfires, burning 4,664,364 acres. To name a few recent disasters: Australia, Amazon Rainforest, Portugal, Siberia and California. Wildfires reach vast dimensions, causing disasters for the environment, infrastructures high-cost damages, harm to flora/fauna and firefighters. The drone industry has expanded over the years in different fields, including first AID response. It has been proven that these technologies increase safety on-field and present a cost-effective solution. Drones can fly closer to high-risk areas where sensors can detect hidden spot fires.
Objectives:
The aim is to present a conceptual system for wildfire response using drone’s technology. The concept has the purpose of first AID on field, by collecting data and contain the fire area by spraying extinguishing liquids.
Software Tools Used
MATLAB / Simulink
MATLAB / Simulink
Code model for Image Processing. Battery system model simulations.
Code model for Image Processing. Battery system model simulations.
Code model for Image Processing. Battery system model simulations.
Solidworks
3D CAD design, Aerodynamics & Fluid Simulations
3D CAD design, Aerodynamics & Fluid Simulations
3D CAD design, Aerodynamics & Fluid Simulations
Concept Design
Concept Design
Key Components
• Infrared camera
• HD camera
• GPS
• Battery system
• Internal Tank
• Front-Back lights for night mode
Key Components
• Infrared camera
• HD camera
• GPS
• Battery system
• Internal Tank
• Front-Back lights for night mode
The system is composed of a 'master' drone to be connected with multiple 'slave' drones,
composing a team to contain and fight fires in specific locations of the field.
The master drone will be equipped with HD and IR cameras and command the position of the slave (spraying) drones. All data collected from master and slave drones are uploaded to the cloud through the master drone.
Spray drones are equipped with cameras and tanks where chemical liquids are stored to extinguishing fires.
The system is composed of a 'master' drone to be connected with multiple 'slave' drones,
composing a team to contain and fight fires in specific locations of the field.
The master drone will be equipped with HD and IR cameras and command the position of the slave (spraying) drones. All data collected from master and slave drones are uploaded to the cloud through the master drone.
Spray drones are equipped with cameras and tanks where chemical liquids are stored to extinguishing fires.
External components
Internal components
Concept Process
Concept Process
Concept Process
Flight to location & Fire detection
Flight to location & Fire detection
The drone team flies over the wildfire location, Infrared cameras detect the fire.
The drone team flies over the wildfire location, Infrared cameras detect the fire.
Extinguisher activation
Extinguisher activation
Fire geometry is inspected to spray extinguisher avoiding propagation.
Fire geometry is inspected to spray extinguisher avoiding propagation.
Remote control - Data monitoring
Remote control - Data monitoring
Data uploaded to cloud. Battery Monitoring.
Integrated GPS module uploads location coordinates. Remote control of UAV.
Data uploaded to cloud. Battery Monitoring.
Integrated GPS module uploads location coordinates. Remote control of UAV.
UAV Aerodynamics
UAV Aerodynamics
Extinguisher fluid simulation
Extinguisher fluid simulation
Image processing model : Fire recognition
Image processing model : Fire recognition
Image processing model : Fire recognition
FLIR Camera image capture
Image processing: Fire detection
Image processing: Fire detection
Land mapping
Image processing: Fire detection
Image processing: Fire detection
Battery System Engineering
Raw Design sketches, preliminary calculations & materials selection
UAV velocity dynamics
UAV velocity dynamics
Bernoulli equations for tank model
Bernoulli equations: tank model
Design sketches
Design sketches
Design sketches 2
Design sketches 2
Tank design
Tank design
UAV components
UAV components
UAV components
UAV components
Tank components
Tank components
Tank discharge
Tank discharge
Tank discharge
Tank discharge
Beneficial outcomes
COST SAVING
COST SAVING
• UAV
IR sensors: 6000$
Flight time: 50$/HR
• Traditional method
Firefighters: $$$
Flight time: 1500$/HR
• UAV
IR sensors: 6000$
Flight time: 50$/HR
• Traditional method
Firefighters: $$$
Flight time: 1500$/HR
• UAV
IR sensors: 6000$
Flight time: 50$/HR
• Traditional method
Firefighters: $$$
Flight time: 1500$/HR
SAFETY
SAFETY
Exposure of firefighters to fire and smoke is limited, reducing harm to health & safety.
Published researches show that firefighters are +14% more likely to develop cancer compared to general public.
Exposure of firefighters to fire and smoke is limited, reducing harm to health & safety.
Published researches show that firefighters are +14% more likely to develop cancer compared to general public.
Exposure of firefighters to fire and smoke is limited, reducing harm to health & safety.
Published researches show that firefighters are +14% more likely to develop cancer compared to general public.
VERSATILITY
VERSATILITY
UAVs can fly at lower heights and slower speed, flying closer to fires and flying steady for longer periods.
The light-compact design makes drones the best choice for transport.
Remote flight mode compatible to cover wider areas before wildland search team gets started.
UAVs can fly at lower heights and slower speed, flying closer to fires and flying steady for longer periods.
The light-compact design makes drones the best choice for transport.
Remote flight mode compatible to cover wider areas before wildland search team gets started.
UAVs can fly at lower heights and slower speed, flying closer to fires and flying steady for longer periods.
The light-compact design makes drones the best choice for transport.
Remote flight mode compatible to cover wider areas before wildland search team gets started.
RELIABILITY
RELIABILITY
UAVs fly where manned vehicles are not capable. IR cameras detect hidden spot fires invisible to pilots on helicopters.Higher-resolution video-image collection through HD and IR cameras.
UAVs fly where manned vehicles are not capable. IR cameras detect hidden spot fires invisible to pilots on helicopters.Higher-resolution video-image collection through HD and IR cameras.
UAVs fly where manned vehicles are not capable. IR cameras detect hidden spot fires invisible to pilots on helicopters.Higher-resolution video-image collection through HD and IR cameras.
