Week-long trial in Cornwall aims to prevent wildfires with drones
It took place at Preddanack airfield
Last updated 21st Aug 2024
A trial using drones to identify and supress wildfires has taken place in Cornwall.
The trial, which was based at Preddanack airport in Cornwall, rigorously tested the autonomous fire detection and swarm capabilities using one ULTRA and 3.smaller drones.
The national project brought Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service together with Wildraces and AI scientists at the University of Bristol and Sheffield to develop technology to identify and suppress fires before they spread.
It's after Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spent 41 days in 2018 battling a wildfire across 18 square kilometres of moorland near Bolton, has tested a swarm of self-coordinating drones for firefighting, as part of an effort to develop cost-effective early mitigation strategies for wildfires.
“The earlier we reach fires, the less harm they pose to firefighters, communities, infrastructure and the environment,” said Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Justin Johnston.
"Finding and tackling wildfires before they become a problem requires many robots to work together as a swarm,” comments Sabine Hauert, Professor of Swarm Engineering at University of Bristol. “We've spoken to firefighters around the world to design a swarm that is useful and easy for them to operate. It was great to see this technology being tested for the first time.”
Wildfires have become more frequent, large, and severe in the United Kingdom. Factors such as land use changes, higher temperatures, drought conditions, and climate change contribute to this trend. In 2022, there were over 44,000 wildfires - a rise of 72% from the previous year.