UAV Fire-Resistant Netting for Airborne Ember Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wildfire suppression methods face challenges such as lack of trained manpower, threats to firefighters, unpredictability, and scarcity of water/chemicals, especially in challenging terrains, necessitating an efficient and cost-effective technique to combat wildfire spread.

Innovation Solution

A UAV-controlled netting system using battery-powered drones to capture flying embers with fire-resistant mesh netting, equipped with AI and thermal imaging, to slow down wildfire spread and provide time for evacuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods employ application of water or fire suppressing chemicals from the ground, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but the challenge increases due to lack of trained manpower, threat to firefighters' lives, and scarcity of water/chemicals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidmanpower requirement and resource scarcity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional ground-based mechanical firefighting systems with an aerial UAV-based system. The UAV carries and deploys netting to capture flying embers, substituting the need for ground crews to manually apply water or chemicals. This eliminates the reliance on trained manpower and reduces the logistical burden of transporting water and chemicals to challenging terrains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (aerial netting system) between the fire source and the ground. Instead of directly applying water or chemicals to the fire, the system uses netting as an intermediary to capture and contain flying embers before they can ignite new areas. This intermediary approach provides a different pathway for fire suppression that bypasses the limitations of conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If water or chemicals are transported to challenging terrains, then fire suppression capability is improved, but the situation worsens due to transportation difficulties and resource scarcity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression capabilityVSAvoidtransportation to challenging terrains

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from ground-based (2D) operations to aerial (3D) operations. By deploying netting from the air, the system can reach challenging terrains and fire areas that are inaccessible or difficult to access by ground vehicles. This dimensional change eliminates the transportation bottleneck and allows rapid deployment of fire suppression capability to remote or rugged locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical transportation system (vehicles, helicopters, or human carriers transporting water and chemicals) with an aerial UAV system that carries lightweight netting. This substitution eliminates the need for complex logistics and transportation infrastructure, allowing the system to operate independently in challenging terrains without relying on external resource supply chains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If battery-powered drones are used to carry fire nettings, then the ability to operate in wildfire environments is improved, but the flight duration is limited by battery capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to operate in smoke and fire environmentsVSAvoidflight duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces internal combustion engine-powered aircraft with battery-powered electric drones. This substitution allows the system to operate in wildfire environments without the risk of engine failure from smoke and fire, as electric motors are not susceptible to these conditions. The electric propulsion system provides clean, reliable operation in harsh fire zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs multiple UAVs that can dynamically coordinate their operations. Instead of relying on a single drone with extended battery life, the system uses multiple drones with standard battery capacity that can work in coordination, with some drones deploying netting while others provide support or replacement. This dynamic approach compensates for individual battery limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12539435B2Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) controlled netting system and method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 BARTZ BRADLEY LAWRENCE

AI summary

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) controlled netting system is disclosed. The system includes a mesh netting and a battery powered UAV. The mesh netting includes a plurality of nettings arranged as interspersed layers in a mesh form. Each of the plurality of nettings has fire-resistant property. The battery powered UAV is present at an aerial location and the mesh netting is coupled to the battery powered UAV. The battery powered UAV is configured to maintain the mesh netting afloat and auto-adjust size of the mesh netting and porosity, based on one or more of size of embers in a fire and the quality of the fire.