Advanced Drone Flight Control for Fire Fighting (2026-2027)
Abstract
Strong winds in proximity to fires make conventional drones challenging to fly with precision. The use of drones for 'precision bombing' of fires with retardant chemicals requires greater control and resistance to gusts than current flight control systems allow for. This project aims to develop and integrate advanced sensing and control technologies that will be fused with a highly-efficient novel quadrotor configuration use in fire fighting applications. This project will leverage the University of Queensland's advanced triangular quadrotor, fitted with novel gust sensors integrated with its rotors, to effectively carry heavy chemical fire suppressant payloads in near-fire windy conditions. Such capability can speed fire response, reduce or prevent bushfire spread, and save structures and lives.
