Drone fire extinguishing system

Abstract

Charging the battery during flight. [Solution] The drone fire extinguishing device 1 comprises a flyable drone unit 11 equipped with a storage battery 11i, a water tank upper part 12 connected to the drone unit 11, a hydroelectric power generation unit 12d located inside the water tank upper part 12 and equipped with a water turbine 121d, and a hose connecting pipe 15a for connecting a water flow hose 4 or a connecting hose that supplies water to the water tank upper part 12. During flight, the water turbine 121d is rotated according to the force of the water supplied from the hose connected to the hose connecting pipe 15a to generate electricity in the hydroelectric power generation unit 12d, and the generated electricity is stored in the storage battery 11i.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drone fire extinguishing device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, a drone system that uses a drone to transport a liquid (e.g., water, fire extinguishing liquid) from a remote location to a demand location for the purpose of extinguishing a mountain fire or the like is known. For example, a transport pipe through which a liquid or gas flows, a pump device disposed at a remote location and supplying the liquid or gas to the transport pipe, a top drone holding a nozzle connected to the tip of the transport pipe, a plurality of pump drones having a pump incorporated therein for increasing the pressure of the liquid or gas flowing through the transport pipe, a power supply device that supplies power to the top drone and the pump drones via a power cable, and the transport pipe is formed by connecting a plurality of conduits via the pumps of the pump drones. The pump drone includes a pump drone body and a connecting mechanism that connects the pump to the pump drone body so as to be tiltable and / or rotatable. The connecting mechanism includes a connecting shaft fixed to the pump and a rotating member that supports the pump so as to be rotatable about the connecting shaft. The rotating member is rotatably supported by the pump drone body. A drone system is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When power is supplied to a drone via a power cable, the cable becomes a weight. Also, the flight distance of the drone is restricted by the length of the cable. Furthermore, drones equipped with rechargeable batteries may crash if they do not return to base when the battery level becomes low. In one aspect, the present invention aims to charge a battery during flight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, a disclosed drone fire extinguishing system is provided. This drone fire extinguishing system comprises a flyable drone unit equipped with a battery, a water reservoir connected to the drone unit, a power generation unit located within the water reservoir and equipped with a water turbine, and a connection unit to which a hose for supplying fire extinguishing liquid to the water reservoir is connected. During flight, the water turbine is rotated according to the force of the fire extinguishing liquid supplied from the hose connected to the connection unit to generate electricity in the power generation unit, and the generated electricity is stored in the battery. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In one embodiment, the battery can be charged during flight. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating a drone firefighting system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the drone fire extinguishing system 1. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating a waterway. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the drone section of the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a plan view (schematic diagram) of the upper and lower parts of the water storage tank in the embodiment. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the operation of the lower part of the water storage volume in the embodiment. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates how to connect the connecting hose and the hose connection pipe. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The drone device of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] The positions, sizes, shapes, and ranges of the components shown in the following drawings may not represent their actual positions, sizes, shapes, and ranges in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the positions, sizes, shapes, and ranges disclosed in the drawings. In the embodiments, elements expressed in the singular form shall include the plural form unless otherwise clearly indicated in the text. <Embodiment> Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a drone firefighting system according to an embodiment. The drone firefighting system 100 of this embodiment includes a plurality of drone firefighting devices 1, a pump truck 2, and a pump 3. Pump truck 2 and pump 3 pressurize water (firefighting liquid) obtained from a water source (lake, river, water tank, etc.) and supply it to the drone firefighting system 1 via the water flow hose 4.

[0010] The drone fire extinguishing device 1 is capable of flying through the air and can discharge water stored within itself at the fire extinguishing destination. Furthermore, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 can connect its connecting hose 10 to another drone fire extinguishing device 1 and supply water to that other drone fire extinguishing device 1 through this connecting hose 10. The drone fire extinguishing system 1 can be in the following four states: (Standby state)

[0011] The standby state is when no fire has occurred and the drone is waiting within the drone base 5. In Figure 1, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 in the standby state is shown as drone fire extinguishing device 1a. (Water discharge state) The water discharge state is when water is being discharged from above the source of the fire. In Figure 1, the drone fire extinguishing system 1 in the water discharge state is shown as drone fire extinguishing system 1b. (Connected state)

[0012] The connected state is a state that can occur, for example, when the distance from the fire source is too far and the length of the flowing water hose 4 is not sufficient for the drone fire extinguishing device 1b to reach the destination. This connected state is the state of an intermediate connecting machine that uses the connecting hose 10 to supply water to the drone fire extinguishing device 1b to perform only the function of water flow in order to place the drone fire extinguishing device 1b above the fire source. In FIG. 1, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 in the connected state is illustrated as the drone fire extinguishing device 1c. (Connected water discharge state)

[0013] The connected water discharge state combines the two states of the water discharge state and the connected state. The drone fire extinguishing device 1 in the connected water discharge state is in a state where it supplies water to another drone fire extinguishing device 1 using the connecting hose 10 it has, while also discharging water above the fire source where a fire is occurring. In FIG. 1, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 in the connected water discharge state is illustrated as the drone fire extinguishing device 1d. In the following description, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 closer to the side that pressurizes water, such as the pump truck 2 or the pump 3, is referred to as the base end side, and the drone fire extinguishing device 1 closer to the fire source is referred to as the tip side. In FIG. 1, the drone fire extinguishing device 1b in the water discharge state is on the tip side when viewed from the drone fire extinguishing device 1c in the connected state. Also, the drone fire extinguishing device 1c in the connected state is on the base end side when viewed from the drone fire extinguishing device 1d in the connected water discharge state.

[0014] In a vast fire scene such as a mountain forest or a forest, in the type of drone fire extinguishing device that stores the pumped water and discharges it at the destination and also returns to fetch water, the water storage capacity may not be sufficient. For this type of drone fire extinguishing device, to achieve the same function as a fire truck, a huge number of drone fire extinguishing devices are required.

[0015] Furthermore, if an attempt is made to fly the drone fire extinguishing device for a long time, the capacity of the driving battery will increase, and the entire device will become heavier accordingly. Therefore, there is a limit to extending the flight time and distance of the drone. Also, the charging time for one charge increases. There are also drones that generate electricity with a gasoline engine, but it is not preferable for a drone equipped with a gasoline tank to fly over a forest fire scene because there is a possibility of the gasoline catching fire due to high heat or fire dust.

[0016] The drone fire extinguishing device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a hydroelectric power generator and a storage battery. When firefighters first manually connect the water hose 4 extended from the pump truck 2 or pressure pump 3 to the drone fire extinguishing device 1 and supply water, the water pressure activates the hydroelectric power generator inside the drone fire extinguishing device 1, continuously charging the storage battery. As long as the water flow rate and duration are secured, the storage battery can continuously store enough power to fly the drone fire extinguishing device 1. Furthermore, by continuously supplying water from the pump truck 2 or pressure pump 3 to the drone fire extinguishing device 1 via the water hose 4, the water flow for fire extinguishing discharged from the drone fire extinguishing device 1 is never interrupted, allowing the flight time and distance to be extended until the entire source of the fire is completely extinguished. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the drone fire extinguishing system 1. The drone fire extinguishing system 1 includes a flyable drone section 11, an upper section 12 of the water tank, and a lower section 13 of the water tank. The upper part 12 of the water storage tank is fixed to the rotating cylindrical water channel 14. The lower part 13 of the water storage tank is fixed to the fixed cylindrical water channel 15. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a waterway.

[0017] The lower part of the rotating cylindrical water channel 14 and the upper part of the fixed cylindrical water channel 15 are joined in a non-contact manner by a freewheel-type upper and lower splitting device 16. This structure prevents water from leaking from the joint. This structure allows the lower part 13 of the water tank to remain stationary even when the upper part 12 of the water tank is rotating.

[0018] The freewheel-type upper and lower splitting device 16 is freewheel (free in a clockwise direction in this embodiment) relative to the fixed cylindrical water channel 15, and therefore rotates clockwise without resistance.

[0019] A hose connection pipe 15a is connected to the fixed cylindrical water channel 15. A water flow hose 4 or a connecting hose 10 provided by another drone fire extinguishing device 1 can be connected to this hose connection pipe 15a.

[0020] A water flow branching section 15b is provided in the fixed cylindrical water channel 15. Water flowing into the fixed cylindrical water channel 15 from the hose connection pipe 15a is branched by the water flow branching section 15b and guided to the upper part 12 and lower part 13 of the water storage tank. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the drone section of the embodiment. The drone section 11 consists of a rotor blade 11a and a fixed section 11b, which are connected by a drone fixing shaft 11c. The rotor blade 11a generates lift. The fixed section 11b is equipped with a drone control unit 11d and a communication module 11e.

[0021] The drone control unit 11d is equipped with a Raspberry Pi 5. The entire drone fire extinguishing system 1 is controlled by this drone control unit 11d. For example, the drone control unit 11d controls the flight of the drone fire extinguishing system 1. It can also send instructions to various parts according to the AI ​​automatic flight program, allowing the drone fire extinguishing system 1 to fly autonomously.

[0022] The communication module 11e is connected to the network 50. The drone control unit 11d can send and receive data with a management terminal device (not shown) via the communication module 11e at predetermined timings. Depending on the operator's operation of the management terminal device, the drone fire extinguishing system 1 can send various information it has acquired to the management terminal device, and the management terminal device can send instructions to various parts of the drone fire extinguishing system 1. The communication method is not particularly limited, but examples include communication via Wi-Fi or communication via satellite internet service. The timing of the communication is also not particularly limited. It may be real-time communication or communication at predetermined timings. The drone control unit 11d is connected to various accessories via interface 107.

[0023] Accessories include, for example, a GPS module (Global Positioning System) 11f, a wind direction and speed sensor 11g, and an outside temperature sensor 11h. The GPS module 11f may be a serial connection type or a USB connection type. The drone control unit 11d continuously acquires positional information using the GPS module 11f during flight. The wind direction and wind speed sensor 11g acquires wind direction and wind speed. The ambient temperature sensor 11h acquires the temperature in the vicinity of the sensor.

[0024] Because the GPS module 11f can accurately pinpoint the coordinates of the fire site, the drone firefighting device 1 can be deployed above the source of the fire in a short time using the automatic flight program of the drone control unit 11d. Furthermore, the drone fire extinguishing system 1 is equipped with a battery 11i that supplies power to the flight and various control units. Let's return to Figure 2 and explain. The upper part 12 of the water storage tank includes the upper water storage tank body 12a, a hose storage section 12b, a pressurized solenoid valve 12c, and a hydroelectric power generation section 12d. The upper water storage tank body 12a in this embodiment is a hollow housing. Figure 5 is a plan view (schematic diagram) of the upper and lower parts of the water storage tank in the embodiment.

[0025] The upper water storage tank body 12a has an upper panel 121a. Along the circumference of this upper panel 121a, a water jet hole 122a is provided on the drone section 11 side, from which water can be ejected from inside the upper water storage tank body 12a. The upper water storage tank body 12a is rotatably mounted relative to the lower water storage tank 13. The upper water storage tank body 12a can store incoming water.

[0026] The aforementioned connecting hose 10 is stored in the hose storage section 12b. Specifically, the upper water tank body 12a functions as the hose reel body, and the connecting hose 10 is wound around the upper water tank body 12a. Figure 5 shows the end of the outer flange and the inner winding section of the hose storage section 12b. The connecting hose 10 is not shown in the illustration. Let's return to Figure 2 and explain.

[0027] The pressurized solenoid valve 12c is connected to the end of the connecting hose 10. The pressurized solenoid valve 12c detects the water pressure inside the upper water storage tank body 12a. The pressurized solenoid valve 12c also pressurizes the water stored in the upper water storage tank body 12a and causes it to flow into the connecting hose 10, in accordance with instructions from the drone control unit 11d.

[0028] The hydroelectric power generation unit 12d has a water turbine 121d and a generator (not shown) connected to the water turbine 121d. When water diverted by the water flow branching unit 15b strikes the water turbine 121d, the water turbine 121d rotates, causing the generator to rotate. This generates electricity. The generated electricity is stored in the battery 11i.

[0029] The lower part of the water storage tank 13 is an example of a water discharge section. This lower part of the water storage tank 13 includes an outer water storage tank 13a, an inner water storage tank 13b, a downward heat source sensing sensor 13c, a side heat source sensing sensor 13d, a surveillance camera 13e, and a water discharge volume adjustment section 13f.

[0030] The outer reservoir tank 13a and the inner reservoir tank 13b each have multiple discharge holes. The lower part of the reservoir tank 13 has a two-tank structure that rotates to align the positions of the discharge holes in the outer reservoir tank 13a and the inner reservoir tank 13b and discharge water.

[0031] The downward heat source sensor 13c is located at the bottom of the outer water storage tank 13b. The downward heat source sensor 13c detects a heat source (fire source). A heat-resistant and waterproof guard 131c is attached to the downward heat source sensor 13c.

[0032] The lateral heat source sensor 13d is located on the side of the outer water storage tank 13a. The lateral heat source sensor 13d detects heat sources (fire sources). A heat-resistant and waterproof guard 131d is attached to the lateral heat source sensor 13d. The surveillance camera 13e captures images around the drone fire extinguishing device 1. The water discharge volume adjustment unit 13f adjusts the amount of water discharged from the lower part 13 of the water storage tank. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the lower part of the water storage volume in the embodiment.

[0033] If the inner diameter of the outer reservoir tank 13a is R1 and the inner diameter of the inner reservoir tank 13b is R2, then R1-R2>0 can be expressed as R1-R2>0. In other words, the outer reservoir tank 13a is formed to be slightly larger than the inner reservoir tank 13b, and the inner reservoir tank 13b is housed inside the outer reservoir tank 13a.

[0034] The rotation angle of the inner reservoir 13b can be expressed as (360 / n / 2) ≥ rotation angle ≥ 0. In other words, the inner reservoir 13b rotates and inverts within the range that satisfies the above equation. Here, n is the number of rows of discharge holes provided in the outer reservoir 13a and the inner reservoir 13b. In Figure 6, the rows are shown by dotted lines. The number of rows of discharge holes provided in the outer reservoir 13a and the inner reservoir 13b, as well as the position and spacing of the discharge holes in each row, are the same for both the outer reservoir 13a and the inner reservoir 13b.

[0035] In Figure 6, the upper right shows the lower part of the water storage tank 13 when the rotation angle is (360 / n / 2). At this time, the discharge holes in both tanks are blocked from each other, resulting in a water-stopping state. In Figure 6, the lower right shows the lower part of the water storage tank 13 when the rotation angle is 0. At this time, the positions of the discharge holes in both layers are perfectly aligned, resulting in the maximum amount of water discharged. The discharge volume adjustment unit 13f can adjust the amount of water discharged by adjusting this rotation angle. The main part of the control mechanism that controls the amount of water discharged is formed by the outer water storage tank 13a, the inner water storage tank 13b, and the discharge volume adjustment unit 13f. Next, an example of the operation of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 of the embodiment will be described. (Example of operation 1)

[0036] Operation Example 1 is an example of extinguishing a fire using one drone fire extinguishing device 1. The following steps are provided for the sake of explanation. The operations and sequence are just examples, and some operations may be omitted or other operations may be added.

[0037] [Step S1] With the ends of the water flow hoses 4 extending from the pump truck 2 and the pressure pump 3 connected to the ends of the hose connection pipe 15a, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 is started flying toward the source of the fire. At the start of flight, the water discharge holes in both tanks of the lower part of the water tank 13 are blocked from each other and the water is stopped.

[0038] [Step S2] Water is supplied from the pump truck 2 or the pressure pump 3 during flight. The water flowing in from the hose connection pipe 15a is branched at the water flow branching section 15b to the upper part 12 of the water storage tank and the lower part 13 of the water storage tank.

[0039] [Step S3] The force of the water flowing into the upper reservoir body 12a causes the water turbine 121d to rotate, and the hydroelectric power generation unit 12d generates electricity. The generated electricity is charged into the storage battery 11i, and this amount of electricity keeps the drone fire extinguishing device 1 flying and other electrical equipment running.

[0040] [Step S4] Meanwhile, the water that flows into the lower part of the reservoir 13 falls to the bottom of the inner reservoir 13b and fills the inner reservoir 13b. As the water level rises and the inner reservoir 13b is filled with water, it fills the upper reservoir body 12a upwards, causing the water pressure near the top of the upper reservoir body 12a to rise rapidly, and water is forcefully ejected from the fountain holes 122a to form a fountain. The fountain hits the various equipment and rotor blades 11a installed on the fixed part 11b, cooling the swirling, scorching air rising from the fire scene and preventing the equipment and rotor blades 11a from being damaged by heat. Also, once the upper reservoir body 12a is filled with water, the pressurized solenoid valve 12c detects the water pressure when it is full.

[0041] [Step S5] The drone control unit 11d can identify the source of the fire using the downward heat source sensor 13c, the side heat source sensor 13d, and the surveillance camera 13e. Upon arriving above the source of the fire, the drone control unit 11d operates the water discharge volume adjustment unit 13f to set the rotation angle to 0. This ensures that the positions of the water discharge holes on both layers are perfectly aligned, resulting in the discharge of the maximum amount of water. The water stored in the inner layer water tank 13b pours down from the water discharge holes towards the source of the fire like rain, extinguishing it.

[0042] [Step S6] When the drone control unit 11d confirms that the fire source has been extinguished using the downward heat source sensor 13c, the side heat source sensor 13d, and the surveillance camera 13e, it sends a message to the management terminal device via the communication module 11e indicating that the fire has been extinguished. Upon receiving the message that the fire has been extinguished, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 returns to the drone base 5 with the water supply from the pump truck 2 and the booster pump 3 stopped, and the upper part 12 and lower part 13 of the water tank empty, making it lighter. (Example of operation 2) Operation Example 2 is an example of extinguishing a fire using multiple drone fire extinguishing devices 1.

[0043] [Step S11] When using multiple drone fire extinguishing devices 1 to extinguish a fire, the ends of the water hoses 4 extending from the pump truck 2 or the pressure pump 3 are connected to the ends of the hose connection pipes 15a of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at the base end. Then, the connecting hose 10 of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at the base end is connected to the end of the hose connection pipes 15a of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at the tip end, and the flight is started. At the start of the flight, the connecting hose 10 may remain stored in the hose storage compartment 12b, or it may be pulled out from the hose storage compartment 12b. The basic operation is the same as in Operation Example 1.

[0044] As the drone fire extinguishing devices 1 begin flying with the connecting hose 10 still stored in the hose storage compartment 12b, and later separate from each other, the connecting hose 10 of the base-end drone fire extinguishing device 1 is pulled by the tip-end drone fire extinguishing device 1. At this time, the upper water tank body 12a, the hose storage compartment 12b, and the rotating cylindrical water channel 14 of the base-end drone fire extinguishing device 1 are integrated, and the freewheel type upper and lower splitting device 16 built into the rotating cylindrical water channel 14 is freewheel (free in a clockwise direction for explanation) relative to the fixed cylindrical water channel 15. Therefore, the upper water tank body 12a rotates clockwise without resistance, and the connecting hose 10 is extended further and further ahead.

[0045] When the pressurized solenoid valve 12c of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at the base end detects the water pressure in the upper water storage tank body 12a and detects that the upper water storage tank body 12a is full, the pressurized solenoid valve 12c pressurizes the water stored in the upper water storage tank body 12a in accordance with the instructions of the drone control unit 11d and causes it to flow into the connecting hose 10. The water that has passed through the connecting hose 10 flows into the fixed cylindrical water channel 15 from the hose connection pipe 15a of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at the tip end.

[0046] When multiple drone fire extinguishing devices 1 are linked together, the optimal configuration—whether each drone fire extinguishing device 1 is in water discharge mode, linked mode, or linked water discharge mode—is related to the location of the fire source. The automatic flight program of the drone control unit 11d calculates and determines this. The fire extinguishing system using drone fire extinguishing devices 1, which is suitable for large-scale fires in forests and woodlands, reduces the direct firefighting activities of firefighters, thereby increasing the safety of human lives. Of course, it can also be used for large-scale residential fires and fires in large factories.

[0047] Furthermore, when connected, if the lower part 13 of the water tank of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 is placed on the top branch of a non-burning tree and the device hovers, the consumption of the battery 11d can be reduced. Similarly, if the connecting hose 10 is also placed on the branch of a non-burning tree, the weight of the connecting hose 10 attached to the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at both the tip and base ends can be reduced, and if the connecting hose 10 is kept nearly horizontal, the flow of water will be smoother.

[0048] The method of using non-burning tree branches involves detecting non-burning tree branches using the downward heat source detection sensor 13c, the side heat source detection sensor 13d, and the surveillance camera 13e, detecting the position of the detected tree branches using the GPS module 11f, and moving the connecting hose 10 to the detected position using the AI ​​automatic flight program of the drone control unit 11d. Furthermore, the connecting hose 10 can be connected to another drone fire extinguishing device 1 during flight, or the connected connecting hose 10 can be detached. For example, consider the case where firefighting operations have ended and the drone firefighting device 1, which is still connected, is being recovered while the connecting hose 10 is wrapped around it.

[0049] When the freewheel is locked, the hose storage section 12b allows the upper water tank body 12a of the drone fire extinguishing device 1 to rotate counterclockwise together with the drone section 11, thereby winding the connecting hose 10 into the hose storage section 12b and storing it. At the same time, the drone fire extinguishing device 1 at the tip also approaches while flying. Next, we will explain how to attach and detach the connecting hose and hose connection pipe. Figure 7 illustrates the method of connecting the connecting hose and the hose connecting pipe.

[0050] The tip of the connecting hose 10 is provided with a connecting projection 10a. The base end of the hose connecting pipe 15a is provided with a connecting recess 151a. The connecting projection 10a can be inserted into the connecting recess 151a and connected and disconnected by a twisting motion. The connecting projection 10a has a connecting guide rod 10a1 and a fall prevention ball 10a2.

[0051] As shown in the enlarged view, the connecting guide rod 10a1 is inserted through the connecting guide opening 151a2 of the L-shaped connecting guide 151a1 provided in the connecting recess 151a. After moving straight for a distance a, it rotates 90 degrees to the right, twisting by a distance b before stopping. At this time, the relationship c > d holds true for lengths c and d, so the degree of contact between the connecting protrusion 10a and the connecting recess 151a increases, and the anti-detachment ball 10a2 further stabilizes the contact. The connecting guide rod 10a1 is also provided on the opposite side at 180 degrees, but the method of connection is the same.

[0052] To further separate the connection, the reverse operation is performed. When the connecting hose 10 is fully retracted, the connecting recess 151a connected to the connecting projection 10a of the connecting hose 10 can be separated by the twisting motion of the connected drone fire extinguishing device 1.

[0053] Since all of the drone's aerial movements are controlled by a programmed drone control unit 11d, surveillance camera 13e, downward heat sensing sensor 13c, and side heat source sensing sensor 13d, no human intervention is required to connect the drone firefighting devices 1, freeing firefighters from dangerous work at the fire scene.

[0054] Although Figure 7 illustrates the method of connecting the connecting hose 10 and the hose connecting pipe 15a, the method of connecting the water flow hose 4 and the hose connecting pipe 15a is the same.

[0055] As described above, according to the embodiment of the drone firefighting system 100, the drone firefighting device 1 includes a drone unit 11 equipped with a storage battery 11i, a water tank upper part 12 connected to the drone unit 11, a hydroelectric power generation unit 12d located inside the water tank upper part 12 and equipped with a water turbine 121d, and a hose connection pipe 15a that connects a water flow hose 4 or a connecting hose 10 that supplies water to the water tank upper part 12. During flight, the water turbine 121d is rotated according to the force of the water supplied from the hose connected to the hose connection pipe 15a to generate electricity in the hydroelectric power generation unit 12d, and the generated electricity is stored in the storage battery 11i. Therefore, since the storage battery can be charged during flight, long-duration flight and firefighting activities become possible.

[0056] In recent years, forest fires have been occurring frequently around the world. When a forest fire breaks out, if the initial site is not extinguished quickly, sparks will be carried by the wind and spread to other parts of the forest. In recent years, more than 8 million hectares of forest have been burned annually worldwide, and the burned area has nearly doubled compared to 20 years ago. Global warming is said to be the cause of the increase in forest fires, but if that is the case, it will be difficult to reduce the burned area in the near future.

[0057] There is no effective way to prevent forest fires, so, although it is an outdated method, when a forest fire occurs, the only option is to get as many fire engines and firefighters as possible to the fire site and spray large amounts of water. Also, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are used to repeatedly spray large amounts of water from above the forest fire site, but considering the possibility of collisions when many aircraft are flying, it is not possible to simply increase the number of aircraft. The difficulties in fighting forest fires include the following three, for example: (Disadvantage 1) One issue is that if fires are scattered across multiple locations, the risk to the lives of firefighters increases. (Disadvantage 2) Secondly, it is difficult to ensure a stable and sufficient supply of water for firefighting, making it impossible to continuously spray water on the source of the fire for extended periods.

[0058] (Disadvantage 3) The third disadvantage is that, due to disadvantages 1 and 2, if embers spread from a fire being extinguished, it becomes impossible to quickly extinguish the new source of the fire. In any fire, once it starts, how quickly firefighting can be carried out becomes a race against time.

[0059] The drone fire extinguishing system 1 of this embodiment can solve the three problems mentioned above simultaneously by utilizing a drone. Although there are already several fire extinguishing systems that utilize drones, the drone fire extinguishing system 1 is functionally superior to the others in the following respects.

[0060] The drone fire extinguishing system 1 can operate in three states while the drone is in flight: water discharge mode, connected mode, and connected water discharge mode. In water discharge mode, it can continuously discharge water from above the source of the fire, and in connected mode, it can be used solely for water flow as an intermediate connector to extend the fire extinguishing hose.

[0061] In real-world forest and mountain fires, the sources of fire are scattered, making it difficult to achieve effective results with conventional water-spraying methods that involve lining up drones in a straight line. However, by using the drone fire extinguishing system 1 as a linking device, the drone fire extinguishing systems 1 in water-spraying and linked water-spraying states can be positioned in a zigzag pattern above multiple fire sites, making it possible to respond to widespread and numerous fires. The optimal placement of the drone fire extinguishing systems 1 at the fire site, as well as the best combinations of water-spraying, linked, and linked water-spraying states, can all be fully automated by the GPS module 11f and drone control unit 11d built into the drone fire extinguishing system 1. This eliminates the need for firefighters to approach scattered fire sources, thus ensuring the safety of human lives.

[0062] To operate a drone, electricity must be supplied either by extending power lines from a distant power source or by using a battery. If power lines are used, they must be integrated into the fire hose, either inside or outside, but in either case, the weight of the fire hose increases, reducing operational efficiency. Also, in the event of an unexpected power outage at a fire scene, the power supply to the drone will be cut off, and the drone may fall to the ground. On the other hand, to ensure long-duration flight using only the drone's built-in battery, a high-power battery is required, which increases the weight, thus requiring the drone itself to be larger and more expensive. Even with a high-power battery, there is a limit to flight time, and when the power runs low, the drone must return to a charging station, interrupting firefighting operations. The only way to avoid this is to increase the number of drones, but this will significantly increase costs. In contrast, the drone firefighting device 1 has a hydroelectric power generation unit 12d, and the water flowing from the water hose 4 and connecting hose 10 is used for firefighting, and at the same time, it also generates the hydraulic power to rotate the water turbine 121d of the hydroelectric power generation unit 12d. Since the battery 11e is continuously charged with the electricity generated by the hydroelectric power generation unit 12d, there is no limit to the flight time of the drone firefighting device 1 as long as the water turbine 121d is rotating. This also means that there is no limit to the time for which water is discharged for firefighting.

[0063] Although the drone fire extinguishing system of the present invention has been described above based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the configuration of each part can be replaced with any configuration having a similar function. Furthermore, other arbitrary components or processes may be added to the present invention.

[0064] The above processing functions can be implemented by a computer. In this case, a program describing the processing content of the functions of the drone control unit 11d is provided. By executing this program on a computer, the above processing functions are implemented on the computer. The program describing the processing content can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic storage devices, optical discs, magneto-optical recording media, and semiconductor memory. Examples of magnetic storage devices include hard disk drives, flexible disks (FDs), and magnetic tapes. Examples of optical discs include DVDs, DVD-RAMs, and CD-ROMs / RWs. Examples of magneto-optical recording media include MOs (Magneto-Optical disks).

[0065] When distributing a program, portable recording media such as DVDs or CD-ROMs containing the program are sold. Alternatively, the program can be stored on the storage device of a server computer and transferred from the server computer to other computers via a network.

[0066] A computer executing a program stores programs, for example, those recorded on a portable storage medium or transferred from a server computer, in its own memory. The computer then reads the program from its memory and executes the processing according to the program. Alternatively, the computer can directly read the program from the portable storage medium and execute the processing according to that program. Furthermore, the computer can sequentially execute the processing according to the programs received from a server computer connected via a network, each time a program is transferred.

[0067] Furthermore, at least some of the above processing functions can be implemented using electronic circuits such as DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), and PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Drone fire extinguishing system 10 Connecting hoses 10a Connecting protrusion 10a1 Joining guide rod 11 Drone Department 11a Rotary blade 11b Fixed part 11c Drone Fixed Axis 11d Drone Control Unit 11e communication module 11f GPS module 11g Wind Direction and Speed ​​Sensor 11h Outdoor temperature sensor 11i Battery Storage 12 Upper part of the water storage tank 12a Upper water storage tank body 121a Top panel 121b Fountain hole 12b Hose storage compartment 12c Pressurized Solenoid Valve 12d Hydroelectric Power Department 121d water wheel 13 Lower part of the water storage tank 13a Outer layer water storage tank 13b Inner reservoir 13c Downward heat source detection sensor 13d Side heat source detection sensor 13e Surveillance Camera 13f Water discharge adjustment section 14. Rotating cylindrical water channel 15 Fixed cylindrical waterway 15a Hose connection pipe 151a Connection recess 15b Water flow branching point 16. Freewheel-type upper and lower splitting device 2 Pump trucks 3. Pressure pump 4. Running water hose 5 Drone base 100 Drone Firefighting Systems

Claims

1. A drone unit equipped with a battery and capable of flight, A water storage unit connected to the drone unit, A power generation unit, which is located within the aforementioned water storage section and is equipped with a water turbine, A connection part for connecting a hose to supply fire extinguishing liquid for discharge to the water storage section, It has, A drone fire extinguishing device characterized by rotating a water turbine in accordance with the force of the fire extinguishing liquid supplied from a hose connected to the connection part during flight to generate electricity in the power generation unit, and storing the generated electricity in the storage battery.

2. The drone fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a water discharge unit comprising a housing connected to the water storage unit and having a plurality of holes for discharging the fire extinguishing liquid, and a control mechanism for controlling the amount of fire extinguishing liquid to be discharged.

3. The drone fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting hose that takes in fire extinguishing liquid stored in the water reservoir from one end and has the other end connected to the connection part of another drone fire extinguishing device, so that the taken-in fire extinguishing liquid is drained into the water reservoir of the other drone fire extinguishing device.

4. The drone fire extinguishing device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting hose is wound around the water reservoir and is extended or retracted when the water reservoir rotates.

5. The drone fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, wherein the drone is positioned in the water reservoir in a plan view, and the surface of the water reservoir on the drone side is provided with a spray hole from which fire extinguishing liquid can be ejected from within the water reservoir.

Images