Methods and apparatus for the employment of drones in firefighting activities

Abstract

A coordinated support system for drones includes support units that have the shape and size of a common container and can be easily moved by using common road tractors, so to position a drone fleet close to a fire, possibly recover the aircraft at the end of the mission, and enable transfer during the mission to areas of strategic interest or priority importance to effectively fight the spreading of fire fronts in real time. Coordination and control are carried out through a control unit. The drones are powered by batteries, the automated replacement and recharging of which extends flight autonomy. The system enables an initial filling and subsequent multiple refills of the drones with an extinguishing liquid contained in small dispersible containers, which can be hooked and unhooked from the drones by remote control so to perform multiple missions.

Claims

1. Coordination, control and logistics support system for fleets of drones in firefighting missions aimed at launching small amount of an extinguishing fluid, comprising: a) a fleet of drones (100) equipped with a coupling and ejection system of containers of the extinguishing fluid (102); b) at least one logistics support unit shaped as a container (2) adapted to house the drones (100), drone batteries (101) and the containers of the extinguishing fluid (102), said at least one logistics support unit being transportable with road tractors (103); c) a control unit (1), transportable with the road tractors (103) which communicates via radio signals, (4) and controls, coordinates and monitors all constituent parts of the coordination, control and logistics support system and operators on the ground, the control unit enabling communication towards remote users (5); and d) an equipped area (9) for landing and take-off of the drones (100), for automated replacement of the drone batteries (101), and for an automated loading of containers of the extinguishing fluid (102).

2. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one logistics support unit shaped as a container comprises: a) an automatic ejection system of the drones (100) from an inner space dedicated to the drones (6) towards the equipped area (9); b) an automatic ejection and collection system for the batteries (101) operating between an inner space of storage and recharge (8) and the equipped area (9); c) an automatic ejection system of the containers of the extinguishing fluid (102) from the inner space of storage (7) towards the equipped area (9); d) an electric generator/battery charger (10) to allow recharging of exhausted drone batteries (100); and e) a fuel tank (11) or a primary energy storage system adapted for the operation of the equipped area (9).

3. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 2, wherein said inner space (7) of storage has a series of connectors (13), which allow coupling and holding in fixed positions the containers of the extinguishing fluid (102).

4. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 3, wherein said connectors (13) are provided with presence sensors to allow controlling stocks of the containers of the extinguishing fluid (102).

5. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit (1) is provided with geographical network connection equipment and is configured to be driven from remote locations (5).

6. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 1, wherein said equipped area for landing and take-off (9) is realized at an upper part of the container (2) and provided with expansion mechanisms to facilitate the landing and take-off of the drones.

7. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 1) wherein said equipped area for landing and take-off (9) is positioned in an area distinct and contiguous to the container (2).

8. The coordination, control and logistics support system according to claim 1, wherein said fleet of drones (100) is equipped with coupling and ejection systems, which allow transport of different materials other than the containers of the extinguishing fluid (102).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the proposed technical solution will appear more evident in the following description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment shown by way of example and not of limitation in the accompanying no. 4 drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 indicates the system control unit which, by means of radio signals, controls and monitors the positions of the drone support units in the form of containers (e.g. intermodal containers) and loaded on road tractors. Said unit communicates, monitors and controls the action of drones.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows the general structure of a drone support unit for storing and refilling and its internal subdivision into functional areas.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the specification of the storage system for containers containing the fire extinguishing liquid.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a lateral perspective view of the dynamics of a drone fleet and the subsequent steps of landing, refilling on the support container, take-off and subsequent drop of extinguishing liquids containers onto the burning area.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows the same dynamics as in FIG. 4, illustrated in top view.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the components of the control communication system are schematically identified, comprising a controller (1) suitable to manage and plan the use of a drone (100) fleet that in their rest condition are housed together with back-up batteries (101) and containers containing firefighting liquid (102) within one or more containers (2) of a size and shape suitable for easy handling by, for example, a standard road tractor (3). Said containers can then be positioned nearby and depending on the burning area and might be possibly moved according to the spreading of the fire, as it will be better described below. Preferably, but not necessarily, the controller (1) is a computer that is physically separated from the drones (100) and connected to them by means of a wireless connection (4).

[0022] Drones (100), housed inside the container (2), are possibly characterized by the presence of dual feeding, i.e. at least two power supply batteries, one of which is used as a backup battery, and one is used to supply power to engines, navigation systems, on board sensors and equipment, such as the equipment dedicated to communication and remote control. Drones (100) are also equipped with a hooking system allowing them to load and carry containers containing extinguishing liquid (102). One or possibly more containers (2) containing said drone (100) fleet are positioned by the road tractors (3) nearby the burning areas at the ideal locations identified and selected by the controller (1) following a preliminary analysis of orographic characteristics, vehicular accessibility, environmental parameters such as wind, temperature, humidity and relevant information from the context, and taking into account strategic factors such as the presence of priority targets to be protected and/or data related to the recent spreading of the fire.

[0023] The wireless connection system (4) is designed to allow a bidirectional transfer of data between drones (100), controller (1), and any firefighters in the area, thus allowing the creation of a collaborative system made of a swarm of drones, which are able of self-management by using specific algorithms and the exchange of information, such as telemetry, position, movement, information coming from on board sensors, environmental data and, of course, command, control, navigation and coordination signals from the fire fighting forces, means and aircraft.

[0024] The controller (1) is in turn housed in a movable physical unit, which is functionally similar to the container (2) and is therefore also potentially movable by means of road tractors (3), or equivalent vehicles, to be transferred close to the area affected by the fire, and further transferred according to the spreading of the fire. The controller (1) is also equipped with connection devices to geographical networks in order to be safely controlled, if needed, from remote stations (5) in order to keep the operators safe, and they will be able both to work next to the containers (2) and use remote control applications, i.e. at a safe distance from the means and the fire front. The same safety considerations apply to firefighting operators in charge of driving road tractors (3), who may, after positioning the containers (2), drive away from the burning areas.

[0025] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2 thereof, those parts of the container units that are functionally significant, are schematically identified and they are dedicated to support the firefighting missions of the drones and, in particular, to their transfer, to the storage, replacement and charge of the batteries, and, eventually, to the storage and replacement of the containers containing the firefighting liquid. In particular, a support container (2) comprises a space (6) for accommodating the drones for them to be transported, a storage area (7) of suitable containers containing firefighting liquid and a storage area (8) for storing and recharging the batteries (101) of the drones.

[0026] The container (2) is also equipped with an electric generator/charger (10) and a fuel tank (11) or equivalent functional devices, said devices being remotely controllable and designed to guarantee the energy independence and the autonomy of the container, and above all the charge of batteries (101) regardless of the presence of a road tractor (3).

[0027] Finally, the container (2) includes a number of automatic mechanisms that can be remotely controlled by the controller (1), which allow the automatic launch/retrieval of the drones in the take-off/landing area (9) and the ejection at predetermined positions of the containers containing the firefighting liquid stored in the area (7) and the batteries housed in the area (8). The landing, replacing and taking-off area of the container (9) is then equipped with automated exchange and hook systems that allow the employed drones to land, unload the empty batteries, if necessary, for them to be recharged and automatically load new batteries and a container containing an extinguishing liquid for their next missions.

[0028] With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particular to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the shelves (12) inside the container (2) are schematically identified and positioned in space (7) and designed to accommodate the containers containing firefighting extinguishing liquid (102), said containers being anchored to a series of connectors (13) which secure them and keep them in a fixed and predetermined position and facilitate their loading, thanks to an automated system, onto the equipped area (9) allowing drones to land, be reloaded and take off. It should also be noted that said connectors (13) will be equipped with occupancy sensors to allow the automated control of the stocks of firefighting containers (102).

[0029] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular FIGS. 4 and 5 thereof, the container (2) is schematically identified, safely positioned in functionally strategic areas and close to the fire front (14), said areas being anyway compatible with the orographic situation of the territory, the availability of vehicular accessibility around the area of intervention and the presence of very important targets that need to be protected, all of this is based on strategic analyses and processing carried out by the control unit (1) based on a specific intervention management algorithm. FIGS. 4 and 5 show drones (100) which follow a cyclic path and land on the equipped and automated exchange area, on the landing and take-off area (9) for the necessary reloading, recharging/replacing interventions of the firefighting liquid containers and, if necessary, of the batteries. Said equipped area (9) is equipped with automated control, management and automatic routing mechanisms to facilitate the landing of the drones, the hooking to a restraining and translation mechanism which, while the drones slide along that same area (9), unhooks the empty container and hook to the drone a new container filled with firefighting liquid (102), which will be used during the next. If the battery used by the drone is almost empty, it is disconnected from the drone and replaced with a new charged battery (101) taken from those available in the dedicated area (8) and made available on the surface of the equipped area (9) by using an automatic lifting and ejection system. At the same time, the system allows the empty battery to be moved to the lower level of the container (2), and in the area (8) designed for storage and especially for recharging the empty batteries.

[0030] The drone, refilled with the firefighting liquid, and possibly reloaded with a new charged battery that is needed to fly, can then take off again and fly towards the concerned area and drop the extinguishing liquid contained in the new firefighting liquid container (102) on the concerned area (14) according to information related to target, trajectory, and coordination with other aircraft provided by the control unit (1) and the by mutual cooperation and communication between them. In such a way, the explained procedure can be cyclically repeated in a virtually infinite manner, in order to contribute to the continuous control and containment of the fire.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0031] The invention can be realized with technical equivalents other than the currently envisaged drones and systems, by using supplementary materials or devices fit for the purpose. By way of example and not of limitation, it is noted that the geometric shapes of the elements may be varied while maintaining the functionality. The containers (2) for the drone support may for example be integrated by further additional containers that only contain refills for containers and/or batteries to supply power to the drones. At the same time, the current base housing the drones (12) could be equipped with nozzles for refilling containers to develop a system that recycles the used containers instead of scattering or storing them as empty containers in their respective containers. Lastly, it could be developed a system where containers are filled only when actually used and containers are positioned next to dedicated tank containers where large quantities of extinguishing liquid are kept. Finally, it should be noted that the proposed solution can be modified with known changes to allow for the use of drones for missions and technological environments that are completely different from the primarily assumed firefighting scenario. By way of example, and not of limitation, potential uses are mentioned, such as the dispersion or spread of different materials, either solid, liquid materials or powders, for industrial or agricultural purposes (fertilization, disinfestation, irrigation and similar processes).

[0032] Last but not least, depending on the size of the fleet, on the employed means and on the material to be transported, an expandable area (9) equipped for landing, taking-off and refilling might be needed or, depending on the specificities of the intervention, the area might be different and separated from the container unit (2).