Experts believe autonomous wildfire drones could dramatically reduce the damage caused by forest fires by responding within minutes of ignition.
A German tech company has shown off a new autonomous wildfire drone that can detect fires early and may one day put them out automatically. Dryad Networks demonstrated this technology on March 27 in Eberswalde, Germany.
The autonomous wildfire drone is part of a system called Silvaguard. It works with sensors in forests that can detect fires almost as soon as they start. When a sensor detects a fire, it sends an alert, and the autonomous drone flies to the location on its own to check it out.
During the demonstration, the autonomous wildfire drone launched from its solar-powered hangar after sensors detected a controlled fire. It flew to the location without human guidance and sent back live video and infrared images of the fire.
The technology could help fight wildfires that cause billions in damage each year. The recent Los Angeles wildfires alone may cost more than $250 billion.
Carsten Brinkschulte, who leads Dryad Networks, believes that just detecting fires early isn’t enough anymore. “We need to extend to rapid and autonomous suppression systems,” he said during the demonstration of the autonomous wildfire drone.
The company’s current wildfire detection system, called Silvanet, uses solar-powered gas sensors placed throughout forests. These sensors connect wirelessly to form a network that can alert firefighters about fires before they spread.
Silvanet is already being used in more than 50 locations worldwide. It has been set up in Lebanon, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Canada, and the United States. In Lebanon, the system spotted an unauthorized fire within minutes, allowing for quick action.
The new autonomous wildfire drone system aims to take firefighting a step further. In the future, Dryad plans to equip the drones with technology to put out fires. One method they’re exploring uses acoustic waves to extinguish flames.
The complete vision is for the two systems to work together seamlessly. When Silvanet sensors detect a fire, they would trigger nearby Silvaguard autonomous wildfire drones. These drones would fly to the fire, confirm it’s real, and then use their built-in technology to stop it before it spreads.
Wildfires have destroyed huge areas of forest globally. According to Global Forest Watch, fires burned through 138 million hectares (341 million acres) of tree cover worldwide between 2001 and 2023. That’s an area larger than the entire country of Peru.
Even in Germany, where the demonstration took place, fires claimed 7,080 hectares (17,495 acres) of trees during the same period.
A study published in Science highlights how quick-spreading fires cause the most damage in the United States. Nearly half of U.S. regions experienced fast-moving fires that grew more than 1,620 hectares in just one day. These rapid fires were responsible for 78% of structures destroyed and 61% of firefighting costs, totaling $18.9 billion.
The problem is getting worse. From 2001 to 2020, the average peak daily growth rate for these fires more than doubled in the Western U.S.
Today’s demonstration marks what Dryad calls “Phase 1” of its Silvaguard project. In this phase, the autonomous wildfire drone can fly to a fire on its own after sensors detect it. It can provide real-time video and information about the fire’s size and location.
The next phase will focus on adding fire suppression capabilities to the autonomous wildfire drones. The company will test different methods for putting out fires, including the acoustic wave technology.
Later phases will involve multiple autonomous wildfire drones working together across large areas prone to fires. The long-term goal is to have fleets of these drones stationed strategically to provide fast, automated responses to wildfires.
The European Union is supporting the Silvaguard autonomous wildfire drone project with €3.8 million in grants and loans from the European Region Development Fund.
Several groups might use this technology in the future. Government agencies like fire departments and forestry authorities in fire-prone regions could benefit. Companies that manage power grids, railways, or oil and gas operations might use autonomous wildfire drones to protect their infrastructure.
Private forest owners and timber companies could also use the system. Insurance companies might support the use of autonomous wildfire drones to reduce wildfire-related claims. Conservation groups could deploy them to protect natural areas.
As climate change makes wildfires more frequent and intense, technologies like autonomous wildfire drones could become increasingly important. The ability to detect and potentially stop fires within minutes of starting could save forests, homes, and lives.
Dryad Networks is now looking for investors, policymakers, and wildfire management professionals to help bring their Silvaguard autonomous wildfire drones to real-world use beyond their initial demonstrations.
