Researchers Launch Smoke-Sensing Drones that One Day Could Fight Wildfires

Researchers launch smoke-sensing drones that one day could fight wildfires

Plumes of smoke drifted up from a fire steadily taking over a 30-acre prairie at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, north of the Twin Cities. Amid the haze, five black drones zipped around.

University of Minnesota researchers deploy AI-equipped drones in wildfire smoke

Through analyzing smoke patterns, the team hopes the swarm of drones will be able to predict fire behavior.

University of Minnesota researchers launch smoke-sensing drones that one day could fight wildfires

Plumes of smoke drifted up from a fire steadily taking over a 30-acre prairie at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, north of the Twin Cities. Amid the haze, five black drones zipped around. More than 150 feet below the flying robots, research student Nikil Krishnakumar raised the controller in the air. “It’s all autonomous now,” he said. “I’m not doing anything.” The aerial robotic team’s ...

U. of Minn. researchers launch smoke-sensing drones that one day could fight wildfires

Plumes of smoke drifted up from a fire steadily taking over a 30-acre prairie at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, north of the Twin Cities. Amid the haze, five black drones zipped around. More than 150 feet below the flying robots, research...