FIRE SUPPRESSION AND IGNITION WITH UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

Authors

Carrick Detweiler, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Sebastian Elbaum, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
James Higgins, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Christian Laney, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Craig Allen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Dirac L. Twidwell Jr, University of Nebraska‐LincolnFollow
Evan Michale Beachly, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Date of this Version

6-29-2021

Citation

United States Patent, Patent No .: US 11,045,672 B2

Comments

U.S. government work

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) can be configured for fire suppression and ignition . In some examples , the UAV includes an aerial propulsion system , an ignition system , and a control system . The ignition system includes a container of delayed - ignition balls and a dropper configured , by virtue of one or more motors , to actuate and drop the delayed - ignition balls . The control system is configured to cause the UAV to fly to a site of a prescribed burn and , while flying over the site of the prescribed burn , actuate one or more of the delayed - ignition balls . After actuating the one or more delayed - ignition balls , the UAV drops the actuated one or more delayed - ignition balls from the UAV onto the site of the prescribed burn .