Wildfires can get a frightening head start.A small ignition in remote terrain can grow while firefighters are still trying to reach it.
Now, a new generation of AI firefighting drones could help shrink that response window.CAL FIRE recently tested Seneca's autonomous suppression drones in California.Meanwhile, teams competing in the $11 million XPRIZE Wildfire competition put other autonomous systems through field testing in Alaska.
The goal is to detect a fire early and get suppressant onto it while it is still small.The timing is important.NOAA says human-caused warming is contributing to larger and more severe wildfires in California and the western United States.
Research has also linked warming conditions with longer wildfire seasons in the West.Here's how these firefighting drones work, what recent tests revealed and where they could be deployed next.AMERICA’S FIREFIGHTER SHORTAGE HITS CRISIS LEVEL AS EMERGENCY CALLS TRIPLE, PUTTING LIVES AT RISKFire agencies are testing autonomous drones that could reach remote wildfires before ground crews or larger aircraft arrive.(Seneca)New! Free live CyberGuy class: Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest ThreatsJoin us Saturday, August 29, at 10 AM ET for a free CyberGuy LIVE class covering five simple steps to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks.
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You’ll also receive our financial protection checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward.Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com.On July 15, CAL FIRE worked with the nonprofit FireWERX and engineers from California-based Seneca on a field test of autonomous firefighting drones.Five aircraft took part in the demonstration.
CAL FIRE ...