Sikorsky and Rain, a firetech company, demonstrated and tested autonomous wildfire suppression techniques on propane and burning brush piles with Sikorsky’s MATRIX flight autonomy system and Rain’s wildfire suppression planning software. The tests were conducted in late April in California.
Using Sikorsky’s autonomous Black Hawk equipped with fly-by-wire flight controls, MATRIX flight autonomy, satellite datalink, and on-board thermal and vision cameras, the flight tests were conducted over live fires at 3,300 feet and wind up to 30 knots, aiming to suppress the wildfires in early stages. MATRIX can be used in fully autonomous or piloted modes.
“These initial attack flight tests on early-stage wildfires were of the highest value to Rain and Sikorsky as we mature our combined autonomy solution, and a great first step for aerial firefighters to learn how autonomy can help a pilot suppress wildfire with greater safety and accuracy,” said Maxwell Brodie, CEO of Alameda, Rain. “We thank California’s firefighters for their considerable interest to help us showcase the benefits of autonomy as a tool to support the safety, efficacy, and efficiency of wildfire response.”
A ground operator controlled the aircraft with a Rain tablet with a live stream of the fire, guiding the helicopter to a water source, filling the bucket, finding the fire using the thermal sensor, and then going through a series of calculations including the fire size, flight path, wind speed, and optimal water release time to ensure the best coverage.
“Sikorsky and Rain have integrated two autonomy systems: our MATRIX technology that controls the flight of any crewed or uncrewed aircraft, and Rain’s wildfire mission autonomy system that finds and tracks the fire, develops a suppression plan, and navigates the aircraft to drop water onto the target,” commented Sikorsky Vice President and General Manager Rich Benton. “With this layered autonomy system, incident commanders and pilots can choose a level of autonomy suitable for their mission, adding new features as they experience improved flight safety gains and enhanced suppression functionality.”
One part of the demonstrations included a crewed S-76 accompanying the autonomous Black Hawk, showcasing the ability to communicate and operate within the same Fire Traffic Area.
“The technology that Rain and Sikorsky is demonstrating is a powerful part of the ecosystem of advancing fire service technology that is answering the year-round fire seasons we’re facing throughout California,” added Chief Dan Munsey, San Bernardino County Fire District. “Of all the tools we have to keep wildfires small, none are more effective than rapid suppression on initial attack of a wildfire. Autonomous aircraft—both crewed and uncrewed—can increase flexibility and capacity for on-the-ground incident commanders, ultimately saving lives and property for the communities we serve.”
Photo: Rain
