How Drones Use Temperature Maps to Safely Start Controlled Fires

A system for drones to drop ignition balls for controlled burns while using thermal sensors to navigate away from dangerous heat and optimize fire patterns.

What it covers

This patent describes a drone equipped with a specialized ignition system that carries and drops delayed-ignition balls to start controlled fires. The drone uses an onboard control system to generate a real-time temperature map of the area below it. This map allows the drone to navigate autonomously, specifically by detecting high-heat zones and steering the drone toward cooler air to prevent damage. It also uses this data to adjust its flight path, ensuring the drone stays over unburned areas while carrying out its ignition mission.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover ground-based vehicles or manned aircraft used for fire ignition.
• —Does not cover fire suppression methods that do not involve dropping ignition balls.
• —Does not cover drones that lack the ability to generate and navigate via a temperature map.
• —Does not cover non-autonomous ignition systems that require manual pilot input for every drop.

The clever bit

The drone doesn't just drop fire starters; it uses the fire's own heat signature to create a dynamic navigation map, treating the fire as a sensor input to actively avoid self-destruction.

Why it matters

Controlled burns are essential for forest management and wildfire prevention, but they are historically dangerous for human crews on the ground or in helicopters. This technology automates the process, removing humans from the immediate vicinity of the fire while providing a safer, more precise way to manage fuel loads in dense or remote terrain.

Real-world examples

• 1.Autonomous forest management drones
• 2.Prescribed burn ignition systems
• 3.Wildfire mitigation UAVs