UAV Wildfire Detection via Potassium Spectral Line Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wildfire surveillance systems, relying on fixed equipment and manned patrols, face challenges in efficiently detecting wildfires across broader areas due to resource constraints and limitations in distinguishing wildfires from other types of fires.

Innovation Solution

Deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with camera systems that detect potassium emissions, allowing for quick and accurate identification of wildfires through spectral line imaging, enabling automated response planning and resource dispatch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If fixed equipment or manned lookout stations are used for wildfire surveillance, then detection can be performed in covered regions, but the coverage area is limited and staffing is difficult during wildfires

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurveillance coverage areaVSAvoidstaffing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses automated spectral detection algorithms that analyze camera images to identify potassium emissions from wildfires, eliminating the need for human operators to manually scan and detect fires in lookout stations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from ground-based fixed surveillance to aerial drone-based surveillance, adding the vertical dimension to expand coverage area while maintaining automated detection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If visible light or infrared cameras are used for fire detection, then hot regions can be detected, but wildfires cannot be distinguished from other types of fires

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire detection accuracyVSAvoidfire type identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses spectral imaging to detect the specific color signature (spectral line) of potassium emissions at 769.9nm, which is characteristic of burning vegetation and distinguishes wildfires from structure fires or other fire types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from general thermal radiation (infrared) or visible light to specific spectral line emission at 769.9nm, which provides unique identification of wildfires through potassium atom emissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If manned air patrols are used for wildfire monitoring, then broader areas can be covered, but resource constraints limit routine monitoring capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring coverage areaVSAvoidroutine monitoring capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses unmanned drones that are less expensive than manned aircraft, allowing for increased deployment of multiple units to perform routine monitoring of broader areas without significant resource constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of manned aircraft operation with automated drone flight and automated spectral analysis, eliminating the need for human pilots and observers while maintaining monitoring capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

UAVs provide efficient, cost-effective, and accurate wildfire detection and monitoring, distinguishing wildfires from other fires, and enabling rapid response planning without human risk, improving detection capabilities and resource allocation.

Implementation Method 1

the camera system is configured to capture a spectral line emission image within the region of the potential wildfire... The processor is configured to process the captured spectral line emission image to identify an emission event indicative of a wildfire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectral line emission: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS11250262B2Wildfire surveillance UAV and fire surveillance system

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 RAPIDDEPLOY INC

AI summary

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a propulsion system, a camera system, a processor, and communications circuitry. The camera system includes an image channel with a band pass filter centered near a spectral line of a material associated with wildfires, and the camera system captures a spectral line emission image within a region of a potential wildfire. The processor uses the captured spectral line emission image to identify an emission event indicative of a wildfire. The communications circuitry transmits, to a dispatch system, data describing a location of an identified emission event. The dispatch system may dispatch firefighting resources to the location of the wildfire.