| Patent holder | Jiangsu Polytechnic College Agriculture & Forestry |
| Patent link | View patent |
| Category | Protection & compliance › Remote sensing & mapping |
Forestry autonomous operation cruising robot
Autonomous robots and UAVs equipped with fire extinguishing payloads represent an emerging class of first-response firefighting technology designed to detect, intercept, and suppress wildfire ignitions before they develop into uncontrollable blazes. The core concept involves unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) or aerial drones — either independently or in coordinated swarms — that carry specialised fire-suppression payloads such as pressurised water or retardant capsules, powder-based extinguishing charges, or targeted chemical bombs that can be precisely delivered onto ignition points. These systems are typically integrated with early fire detection networks — using ground-based sensors, satellite hotspot alerts, or AI-analysed camera feeds — that cue the autonomous platforms to dispatch to a detected fire location and commence suppression before human crews can respond. UAV-based systems are particularly attractive for initial attack because of their ability to rapidly reach remote or steep terrain that is difficult or dangerous for human crews to access, and to operate continuously without the fatigue and safety exposure that constrain human firefighters. In Australian forestry, where plantation and native forest estates face severe and increasing wildfire risk — particularly in summer conditions exacerbated by climate change — autonomous fire-suppression platforms are attracting significant research and investment interest. Projects at Australian universities and CSIRO have explored fire-detection drone networks, while international developments in Spain, the United States, and Israel have demonstrated prototype UAV systems capable of dropping extinguishing payloads on small fires. Key technical challenges include payload capacity limitations of current commercial drone platforms, the need for reliable operation in smoke-filled, GPS-degraded environments, and the development of regulatory frameworks for autonomous operations in active fire incident airspace.
Modelt aimed at productivity but well-suited for high-risk fire suppression scenarios, where rapid response lowers ecological and asset damage.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Jiangsu Polytechnic College Agriculture & Forestry |
| Type | Patent |
| Year | 16/1/24 |
| Status | Pending |
| FWPA RD&E | 4.4 |
| Inventors | Zhang Xingjian, Wang Yuanyuan, Han Yu, Bu Xiaoxuan, Guo Hongguo, Guo Qing |
| Patent No. | CN 117864476 A |