In hot summers, sometimes all it takes is a shard of glass acting as a magnifying lens for dried-out bushes and trees to burst into flames. The earlier smoldering spots and ignition points are detected, the more effectively a large-scale inferno can be prevented. Unmanned systems can contribute to early detection and help accelerate firefighting efforts. They can also be deployed in situations where conventional firefighting methods are simply too dangerous.
Prolonged dry periods are making forest, bush, and vegetation fires increasingly common even in temperate climate zones. This is partly a consequence of human-driven climate change and partly because such fires release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, which further amplifies the greenhouse effect. At the same time, resources that bind CO₂ are lost, creating a devastating downward spiral. This makes it all the more crucial to intensify efforts in prevention and early detection. Here, drones equipped with advanced sensors and AI-powered image analysis can make a significant difference. And even after a fire has broken out, unmanned systems could, in the future, play an active role in fighting the flames—especially in situations where manned firefighting aircraft and helicopters are grounded, such as during nighttime operations or over areas contaminated with explosives, like former military training grounds.
Currently, the biggest limitation of using unmanned aerial systems as “flying fire extinguishers” lies in their restricted payload capacity and the limited amount of extinguishing agents they can deliver to the source of a fire. Researchers at Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM), working with industry and research partners, aim to change that. As part of the AIDER project (Artificial Intelligence in Disaster Relief), they are developing a system for autonomous wildfire suppression. The concept involves deploying a swarm of converted CoAX 600 ultralight helicopters from edm aerotec to fight wildfires unmanned and autonomously. Each aircraft would be able to carry a specialized tank with a capacity of up to 200 liters and drop firefighting water precisely over fire hotspots.
A similar approach is being pursued by Canadian startup FireSwarm Solutions Inc. Instead of converted helicopters, it relies on heavy-lift drones from Swedish company ACC Innovation. Their Thunder Wasp can carry up to 400 kilograms of payload, opening up entirely new possibilities for aerial firefighting. Multiple “Thunder Wasps” operating in swarm formation are intended to fill critical gaps in traditional firefighting strategies. On one hand, manned firefighting aircraft cannot operate around the clock; on the other, their numbers are limited—not to mention the challenge of ensuring enough trained pilots are available on-site. Thanks to their high payload capacity and AI-driven navigation and coordination systems, heavy-lift drones like the Thunder Wasp could provide vital aerial firefighting support and maintain operations even under extreme and hazardous conditions.
> This article was created in cooperation with Drones – The Drone Economy Magazine. www.drones-magazin.de
