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NASA’s Innovative Solutions for Nighttime Wildfire Management

NASA is joining forces with the wildfire community to develop advanced tools to tackle some of the most formidable challenges in firefighting, with a particular focus on conducting successful aerial operations at night.

To address the limitations of current firefighting aerial operations, agencies are looking to leverage drones—both remotely piloted and autonomously operated. NASA has conducted tests across various locations in the United States to explore technologies that can empower aircraft, including small drones and helicopters equipped with autonomous capabilities, to monitor and combat wildfires around the clock, even in low-visibility conditions.

Presently, aerial firefighting efforts are restricted to daylight hours due to safety concerns, as pilots risk colliding with terrain or other aircraft in the dark. NASA’s advancements in airspace management technology are geared towards enabling nighttime operations for drones and remotely piloted aircraft, significantly extending the hours available for fire suppression efforts.

“Our goal is to equip responders with new tools, such as airspace management technologies, that will facilitate 24-hour drone operations for wildfire response,” stated Min Xue, project manager of the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. “This testing will yield critical data that informs the progression of this technology for practical field use.”

Over the past year, researchers from the ACERO initiative have been developing a Portable Airspace Management System (PAMS). This system is designed to assist drone pilots in safely integrating aircraft into wildfire response missions from remote control stations.

The PAMS units, roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, encompass a computer for managing airspace, a radio for inter-unit communication, and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast receiver to monitor nearby air traffic—all housed in a sturdy, portable design.

Nasa’s software integrated into the PAMS enables drone pilots to avoid mid-air collisions while controlling aircraft remotely by effectively sharing flight plans across a network. Additionally, the system provides essential information about fire locations and weather conditions. A separate drone equipped as a communication relay enhances connectivity between ground-based PAMS units without dependence on internet access.

To evaluate the functionality of PAMS in relaying and visualizing crucial information, researchers set up three units at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, ensuring they were out of each other’s line of sight. Operators entered flight plans into their respective systems and successfully demonstrated information sharing through a mesh radio network.

Subsequently, teams in Virginia tested the aerial communications capabilities of PAMS using a long-range vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. This aircraft was integrated with various technologies, including cameras and radios, and was flown alongside smaller drones at NASA’s Langley Research Center, again operating beyond direct sight lines.

The mesh network aboard the larger drone maintained effective communication with both the smaller drones and multiple ground units.

Further tests involved coordinating the PAMS units through an aerial communication relay, simulating in-field conditions. At Monterey Bay Academy Airport in Watsonville, California, engineers piloted a winged drone with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities while establishing a communication relay with three PAMS units. Two smaller drones were also deployed to further investigate communication efficiency.

During the tests, researchers sent conflicting flight plans and intentionally operated outside pre-approved flight zones. The PAMS units effectively notified pilots about the conflicting operations and successfully shared aircraft locations, along with weather updates and simulated fire intelligence.

The results from these tests indicate a promising potential for employing PAMS units effectively in wildfire operations. “This testing marks a crucial advancement in enhancing aerial coordination during wildfire events,” Xue remarked. “The technologies being developed will improve operational effectiveness, mitigate the impact of large wildfires, and ultimately help save lives.”

In the coming months, the team plans to conduct flight evaluations to further refine these technologies for wildfire management, with the ultimate goal of deploying this innovative technology to support firefighting efforts.

This initiative is led by NASA’s ACERO project, part of the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, which aligns with the broader mission of promoting Advanced Air Mobility.

Source
www.nasa.gov