Wildfires Are Not Just a U.S. Problem
Windracers, a British firm specializing in autonomous flight and swarm technology, is using drones to seek out and extinguish nascent or early stage wildfires.
A recent report from the University of Sheffield alerts us, “Wildfires have become more frequent, larger, and more severe in the United Kingdom. Factors such as land use changes, higher temperatures, drought conditions, and climate change contribute to this trend. In 2022, there were over 44,000 wildfires—a rise of 72% from the previous year.”
Sheffield and the University of Bristol have partnered with Windracers, a British automated aerial delivery company, to seek out and contain wildfires early in their development cycles. To add a trans-Atlantic link, Purdue University is joining the effort.
International Concerns
Windracers’ Links to English Universities
As noted above, Windracers is working with the Universities of Sheffield and Bristol, combining talents in artificial intelligence and swarm technology.
Dr. Lyudmila Mihaylova, Professor of Signal Processing and Control in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Sheffield, has developed Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to help guide, separate, and sequence swarms of Windracers as the attack a fire. Essentially this works as an in-flight control tower, guiding the swarm, coordinate actions, and ensure that all craft return their home base on completion of each mission.
Sabine Hauert , an Associate Professor of Swarm Technology at the University of Bristol, looks at robotic swarms on all scales: from nanoscale medicine delivery to robots used in logistics. Her expertise has led to a technology that can be used in the field under high-stress conditions. “Finding and tackling wildfires before they become a problem requires many robots to work together as a swarm. We’ve spoken to firefighters around the world to design a swarm that is useful and easy for them to operate. It was great to see this technology being tested for the first time.”
Purdue University, Windracers, and AI
Purdue University has found Windracers to be an ideal vehicle for incorporation into its AIDA3 (AI for Digital, Autonomous, and Augmented Aviation) program
Sabine Brunswicker, Professor for Digital Innovation at the University and a Founding Director of the AIDA3 program, explains its goals in this video.
The school’s web pages explain AIDA3 is the first major output of Purdue’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), whose purpose is to develop AI at the intersection of the virtual and physical worlds. Professor Brunswicker adds, “With IPAI, we focus on practical innovations that bring together the ‘bytes of AI’ and the ‘atoms of what we grow, make and move… AIDA3 will make this reality in the realm of aviation transportation. We are thrilled to be undertaking this journey with our partners at Windracers.” She sees AIDA3’s approach as being different from existing AI/ML models, which she thinks are not sufficiently reliable to move from data to actions in the real world in a safe, trustworthy, scalable way.
Brunswicker added, “Currently, it can take 10 people to operate one UAV. It is time for one operator to be able to coordinate 100 UAVs at the same time. Our mission is to go beyond current AI/ML models where the potential benefits of smarter UAVs can be fully realized globally. If AIDA3 is successful, its breakthroughs can truly transform society at scale.”
As if the interest of academicians on two continents weren’t enough the military takes an interest in automated flight. Military & Aerospace Electronics reports, “Purdue says that by 2027, nearly 1 million commercial uncrewed aircraft systems are expected to be flying throughout the United States, doing more than delivering packages. These drones will provide key supplies for emergency services, defense, humanitarian aid and health care — even assisting in fighting wildfires.”
Historical Antecedent for Windracers
Vincent Burnelli, a forward-thinking aircraft designer with over 60 patents to his name, was among the first advocating the lifting body aircraft. The configuration his several craft can be seen reflected in that of Windracers’ design.
Similar Electric Aircraft
In the eyes of the Sustainable Aviation Foundation, Windracers should be electric, based on the idea of not adding any greenhouse gases into the mix while fighting fires. That’s part of a vicious cycle of heating the atmosphere already baking the earth and drying out the plants that become fuel for the fire. A few electric examples:
Pyka
Pyka makes electrical agricultural aircraft that could be readily adapted to swarming. The Pelican’s 400-pound (181 kilogram) payload and 200 mile range would be useful for close-in firefighting and its demonstrated capabilities in autonomous crop-spraying and dusting have attracted attention from AFWERX, a research arm of the U. S. Air Force.
Not quite the range of Windracers, but with the ability to carry 100 pound greater payload, Pyka Pelican could be swarmed with right software
Dr. Seeley’s Automated Firefighter
As described here in an August 14 entry, Dr. Brien Seeley designed a single- or double-pod automated aerial firefighter (AAF) that, like the Pyka, could be adapted to swarming. Other electric aircraft could provide varying load capabilities and a dedicated monitoring network could stop fires before they become major conflagrations. Dr. Seeley’s craft would use automated loading systems to reduce the number of personnel required on site. See the Foundation’s Frequently Asked Questions about AAF for more details.
Dr. Seeley incorporated automated loading system to alleviate personnel requirements
Jump Aero JA1 Pulse
Jump Aero’s single passenger, automated flight vehicle can, “Arrive at any location within 50 km in less than 10 minutes,” according to company claims. As a speedy way to dispatch an EMT to a remote site, it could also carry a firefighter with essential equipment. putting boots on the ground for early, small fires. Blazes could be contained early, saving lives and property.
Jump Aero’s JA1 Pulse could be on scene before before fires become dangers to the surrounding area
Why This is Important
It’s hard to drive home the message that wildfires are all around us, and if our person or property are not in immediate danger, why we should be concerned. Just a glance at the CALFIRES Incident report should give us pause. Note that similar situations exist in most states at different scales, but all costing lives and property. Incidents anywhere affect our air quality, insurance costs (or even availability) and our sense of security. As we’ve seen along the entire West Coast, mountain states, and anywhere dry forests and grasslands exist, we need means of stopping little fires before they become destructive blazes.
Today, CALFIRE reports the following fire situation in the state:
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427,089Total Emergency Responses
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6,126Wildfires
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992,109Acres Burned
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1Fatalities:
1 Civilian / 0 Firefighter -
1,439Structures:
210 Damaged / 1,229 Destroyed
Look at numbers for your state to see similar situations and losses. Automated Aerial Firefighting could be an avenue to stopping the destruction.
CALFIRES maps of wildfires in the state during July, 2024