Will it change the rules of the game? Watch out for the heat resistant drone that can dash into the fire! ｜ Pen online

Drones are currently playing an active role in various fields. It is also used to support firefighting activities, but there is a problem that it cannot be used unless a safe distance is maintained from the fire itself. So researchers in Switzerland and the UK have developed a heat-resistant drone that can get close to dangerous hotspots. It is expected to prove powerful in preventing the spread of fire damage and saving lives.

Save firefighter lives! Face the challenges of drones

Swiss online news site,swissinfo.chAccording to the report, drones have already started to help fight fires. They took aerial shots, lifted fire hoses to buildings, and dropped fire-extinguishing agents into wildfires, but said they could only be used in fire-safe areas to avoid damage from high temperatures.

That’s why researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) and Imperial College London have developed a heat-resistant drone called the Fire Drone, which can provide important early information of dangerous hotspots.

Drone developers point out that firefighters don’t know what challenges await them until they enter the danger zone. Upon arriving at a burning building, he said there was no information on whether anyone was still inside, how the building was laid out, or which areas were still safe. Drones, which can withstand high temperatures, can collect such information proactively.

Three approaches to maintaining indoor temperature inspired by nature

science news site,Advanced Science NewsResearchers have looked to nature for clues about how to maintain a functioning internal temperature even in extreme conditions, according to the researchers. Three methods of temperature regulation are combined.

First, the interior of the plane was protected with a layer of air tiles, similar to the way insects called barb bugs create layers of foam to protect themselves from the outside air. Airgel is a lightweight material with excellent thermal insulation properties that reduces heat transfer and protects sensitive parts from external heat (or cold). Reinforcing this material with fiberglass makes it a tough, lightweight insulating material ideal for flying in extreme conditions.

Next, the aircraft was fitted with a thin layer of aluminum that reflects heat. This is the opposite of how the black feathers of penguins absorb heat. In addition, a cooling system was created using the release and evaporation of gas from an existing carbon dioxide sensor as a component. This simulates the cooling effect of evaporation of sweat on the human body.

The ability to withstand low temperatures will open the door to the future of drones?

After launching a drone in a temperature controlled setting and then exposing it to fire at a firefighter training facility, it was shown to withstand temperatures of up to 200°C for 10 minutes. In addition, they confirmed the possibility of using this drone to rescue victims even in environments with harsh low temperatures, which is the opposite of high temperatures.

It’s still in the prototype stage, but researchers hope to use it in future situations such as wildfires, urban emergencies, and extreme cold adventures. It is believed that overcoming environmental factors will cause the drone power to flourish in the future.

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Drone capable of withstanding high temperatures.

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Researchers from # but And @ imperial college Developing a heat-resistant drone to analyze the source of danger at close range. High-risk operations become more computable to firefighters before entering the danger zone.
▶ https://t.co/M1Tb5H3Ra5#Drone #fire #Firefighter # Aerogel pic.twitter.com/dVsdwy21Wk

– but (But_CH) June 26, 2023

Drone shot tweet by Empa.

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