Roboticists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have fitted a pilotless helicopter with a system that injects an unspecified glycol (probably ethylene glycol) into hollow balls containing potassium permanganate, causing a hypergolic reaction. The flaming balls are dropped in a preprogrammed pattern, in order to start fires.
The drone, called the Unmanned Aerial System for Fire Fighting, is being trialled for bringing about "prescribed burns" for fire management and for limiting the spread of invasive organisms. Such work can pose a risk to people who perform it, and must sometimes be done in rugged terrain.
coverage:
- Popular Science (also covers a drone intended to drop dynamite for starting avalanches)
- The Daily Nebraskan
- Lincoln Journal-Star
- SlashGear
- Firefighter Nation
- ABC News
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(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:09PM
Did they recently run tests in Alberta, CA?
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Friday May 06 2016, @12:09PM
Ohhhh, that was a good groaner.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:14PM
http://www.gizmag.com/killerdrone-chainsaw/42605/ [gizmag.com]
What next, lasers?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 3, Funny) by maxwell demon on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:50PM
Those laser-carrying drones will be named "Frigging Shark".
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by CHK6 on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:57PM
I was thinking sharks, but laser will do nicely. Though a drone carrying a shark with a laser on its head and craps chainsaws would be a step above.
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday May 06 2016, @12:38AM
Yes. [defenseone.com] (^_^;)
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday May 06 2016, @01:45PM
Next is fire suppression drones.
Get it? Do you see a business opportunity here.
Let me summarize:
1. fire starting drones
2. fire putting-out drones
3. profit?
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Friday May 06 2016, @08:53PM
You *want* to start drone wars?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday May 09 2016, @01:30PM
No.
Not any more than I want there to be spam.
But when you understand that corporate greed is unlimited and has no morals whatsoever, you can recognize that this kind of thing is inevitable.
I don't want corporations to start fires any more than I want them to pollute the air and water. Nor do I want them to start harvesting everyone's organs. Or putting advertising on the inside of our eyelids. But I can assure you that they WILL do these things if there is profit in it.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:17PM
"prescribed burns" for fire management and for limiting the spread of invasive organisms.
I always suspected he had a plan for managing costs [reuters.com] when implementing his ideas. It might take a while to get the necessary laws through the legislature, though.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:32PM
The flaming balls are dropped
Isn't that what happens when a gay kid hits puberty? :)
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:40PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY [youtube.com]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 3, Funny) by JNCF on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:42PM
They should test it in Berlin. [soylentnews.org]
You're welcome, resident systemd trolls.
(Score: 2) by RamiK on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:55PM
Be sure to avoid the Frankfurt [wikipedia.org] connection flight.
compiling...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 06 2016, @01:10AM
Um, this might be a sensitive topic with Germans? Many German cities (others too...) were firebombed in WWII. Most famous perhaps was Dresden, later the scene for Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five".
(Score: 2) by bitstream on Thursday May 05 2016, @08:50PM
Oops.. sorry we got out of course..
(Score: 3, Insightful) by tangomargarine on Thursday May 05 2016, @09:36PM
the Unmanned Aerial System for Fire Starting
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2016, @11:32PM
It's disheartening to see how many folks use the well-worn term "Fighting fire with fire" without understanding the concept behind the origin of the term. [everything2.com]
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by steveha on Friday May 06 2016, @04:27AM
It doesn't happen all that often, but people die [seattletimes.com] while trying to fight fires, and it is sometimes because they were lighting a planned burn and things didn't go as expected.
One of these drones could zip along above the treeline, drop the balls, and get out safely. And if it doesn't get out safely, it was just a piece of equipment.
This is one of the better uses of drones I've read about.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday May 06 2016, @04:36PM
Now it's clear why Congress wants manufacturers to implement the no-fly DC area in drone firmwares.