Image credit – Craig Chandler/University Communications
Previously we had heard how some drones got in the way of firefighting attempts, and now thanks to a new bill, firefighters are allowed to ground drones if they deem them to be a hinderance in their firefighting capabilities. However a new drone developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln might be one drone that firefighters would welcome.
Dubbed the Unmanned Aerial System for Fire Fighting, these drones are designed to help fight wildfires. How will they do this, you ask? Are they basically flying fire hoses or fire extinguishers? Actually neither. These drones will fight fire with fire, literally, and this is done by dropping balls of fire onto areas in an attempt to create a controlled environment.
The thing with wildfires is that they are wild and basically sets whatever’s in their way alight. However by dropping balls of fire onto areas, the idea is to quickly burn off the grass so as to prevent the wildfire from spreading. This is not a new technique and is known as prescribed burns.
It has been recognized as an effective conservation method that not only eliminates invasive species, but it restores native plants and prevents wildfire. The only difference here is that the drones will be the ones doing it, thus any safety concerns should be reduced or even eliminated.
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