FireDrone built for live data capture in high-risk heat and smoke
The Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research has announced a new generation of FireDrone for firefighting and high-temperature industrial inspections.
The drone is presented as a way to provide real-time information from areas considered too dangerous for people and conventional drones.
The press release from the Laboratory says the technology was developed at Empa and is now being further developed by an Empa and EPFL spin-off.
Fabian Wiesemüller, Empa researcher and co-founder of the FireDrone start-up, said: “Today, firefighters have to physically enter burning buildings to locate hazardous materials or missing persons.
“With the FireDrone, we can now send a drone into hazardous areas to do just that – significantly minimizing the risk during operations.”
The release frames the drone’s intended use around large and complex structures such as industrial halls, parking garages and tunnels.
David Häusermann, Empa researcher and co-founder of the FireDrone start-up, said: “A drone that can fly over such areas quickly and without damage offers clear added value.”
FireDrone insulation, sensors and indoor operation
The organisation set out FireDrone’s heat resistance, insulation approach and payload options.
Conventional drones are described as reaching their limits at around 40 degrees Celsius when frames deform and electronics fail.
FireDrone is stated as being able to fly at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius.
The insulation is described as a patented, ultra-light aerogel with air-filled pores enclosed in heat-resistant plastic.
The release states that earlier insulation relied on a glass fiber-reinforced composite structure made of polyimide and silica, and that the new version uses a pure polyimide aerogel.
Häusermann said: “We can cast the aerogel in three-dimensional shapes and tailor it to the drone.”
The release states that the drone includes an internal temperature management system designed to cool and monitor the electronics continuously.
An infrared camera is described as transmitting high-resolution thermal images in real time to a large screen on the remote control.
Häusermann said: “Today, often only the first firefighters inside the building can see what it looks like inside.
“With the drone, the incident commander can get an overview of the situation before anyone enters the building.”
Optional payloads mentioned include additional cameras and sensors, including tools to measure outside temperatures and detect gases produced by fires.
Indoor flight is described as a core requirement, with development work focused on pilot assistance and localisation systems for environments where satellite navigation is unavailable.
Wiesemüller said: “GPS is not available in many of our operational scenarios.
“That’s why we are developing pilot assistance and localization systems that function reliably even without a satellite signal.”
Testing, funding support and FireDrone Nest plans
The organisation outlined testing activity and the spin-off’s next development steps.
FireDrone is described as the result of several years of research in Empa’s Sustainability Robotics and Building Energy Materials and Components laboratories.
The spin-off is described as having tested the drone at the training ground of the Andelfingen training center and at the Holcim cement plant in Siggenthal.
Häusermann said: “Tests are crucial for making the transition from the laboratory to practical application.
“In future, pilots should be able to use these drones safely in extreme situations with minimal training.”
Support named in the release includes Venture Kick, the Gebert Rüf Foundation and the Innovation Booster Robotics.
A related project described is FireDrone Nest, a mobile, thermally insulated docking and maintenance station intended to enable automatic landing after a mission, secure the drone and prepare it for the next flight.
Wiesemüller said: “The transition from research project to practical application would not have been possible without Empa’s years of support.
“Now it’s a matter of putting the technology to use in real-world applications.”
The release also references a longer-term aim for a mobile docking and maintenance station that can be integrated into fire trucks or modern fire protection systems.