Autonomous Air-Ground Fire Suppression Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wildfire suppression systems face challenges such as shortages of pilots and aircraft, high costs, limited access due to large air attack bases, and difficulties in precise pattern application of fire-retardant, especially in adverse conditions like high winds and smoke, as well as limitations with ground vehicles in terms of resources and proximity to fire locations.
Innovation Solution
A system of autonomous air and ground vehicles, including small, affordable SkyNest airports with fire suppression stations, autonomous robotic aircraft and ground vehicles that can operate in adverse conditions, precision guidance systems, and a system for rapid deployment and reloading of fire-suppressing liquids, enabling rapid and precise application of fire-retardant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional fire engines are used for ground suppression, then they have sufficient water capacity, but they are too large to pass on narrow roads enroute to a fire
Solution Approach 1:
The ground suppression system is divided into multiple small autonomous vehicles that can navigate narrow roads, replacing the single large conventional fire engine. These segmented vehicles can operate in coordination to achieve suppression effectiveness while maintaining access to remote fire locations through narrow terrain
Solution Approach 2:
The small ground vehicles are designed to dock at SkyNest airports where they can rapidly refill water supplies. The nesting principle applies in that the vehicles can be quickly serviced and redeployed from compact airport facilities, enabling rapid turnaround without requiring large centralized water storage facilities
2Quantity of substance
If large air attack bases are used, then aircraft have sufficient fuel and supplies, but the large size and cost limits their number and proximity to fire-prone areas
Solution Approach 1:
The air attack base system is segmented into multiple small SkyNest airports distributed throughout fire-prone areas. Each SkyNest provides essential refueling and resupply capabilities, eliminating the need for one or two large centralized bases. This segmentation allows aircraft to operate from locations much closer to fires while maintaining adequate supply capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Each SkyNest airport is designed with local quality appropriate to its specific location and needs, providing tailored refueling and resupply capabilities. Rather than requiring all aircraft to return to a single large base, each SkyNest provides localized support that maintains aircraft operational capacity while enabling proximity to fire-prone areas
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual pattern application of fire-retardant is used, then pilots can adjust to conditions, but it is difficult to conduct effective and precise application in adverse conditions such as high winds, smoke and darkness
Solution Approach 1:
The manual pilot-controlled pattern application system is replaced with an autonomous robotic aircraft equipped with computer vision and automated dispensing systems. The autonomous vehicle uses thermographic cameras and AI-based navigation to detect fire locations and automatically applies fire-retardant with precise pattern control, eliminating the limitations of human perception and control in adverse conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous system incorporates real-time feedback loops where thermographic cameras continuously detect fire locations and heat signatures, the navigation system processes this information to determine precise application points, and the dispensing system adjusts application patterns based on feedback from sensors. This closed-loop feedback enables precise pattern application even in high winds, smoke, and darkness where human pilots cannot effectively see or control
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conventional detection systems are used, then wildfires can be detected, but there is insufficient responsiveness to suppress fires before they grow unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning autonomous vehicles and SkyNest airports throughout fire-prone areas before fires occur. When fires are detected by remote sensing systems, the autonomous vehicles are already in position or can rapidly deploy from nearby SkyNests, eliminating the time required to mobilize conventional resources. This preliminary positioning enables immediate response that can suppress fires before they grow unmanageable
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression system has a unique combination of components that includes interoperable electric-powered vehicles, facilities, hardware and software along with their range of specifications, standards, processes, capabilities and concepts of operations that comprise a concerted, multi-modal, system for delivering fire-retardant onto fires by uniquely-capable, ultra-quiet, electrically-powered, autonomous robotic aircraft (“SkyQarts”) that fly precise trajectories and perform extremely short take-offs and landings (ESTOL) at a highly-distributed network of small facilities (“SkyNests”) that have standardized compatible facilities, as defined herein, that interoperate with SkyQarts as well as with versatile, autonomous robotic electric-powered payload carts and electric-powered autonomous robotic delivery carts to provide safe, fast, on-demand, community-acceptable, environmentally friendly, high-capacity, sustained, affordable, day or night delivery of fire-retardant, even in smokey, IFR conditions to wildfires or controlled burns in urban, suburban, wildlands and rural settings in both developed and undeveloped countries across the globe.