By Jeffrey A. Newman Esq.
For the last few years, China has been developing advanced drone technology specifically to control forest fires. The drones are used for real time monitoring, dropping fire retardant payloads pr pressurized foam tanks and drone cloud seeding to induce rain in wildfire zones. These practices, especially the combination of real-time thermal mapping and direct fire suppression, represent a technological advance that we could utilize
This does not mean that we should purchase or license the Chinese drone technology. That is not necessary as we can review publications and observe these efforts to allow our engineers to dissemble the technology and applications for development here, all within legal boundaries.
China has broadly started using the Wing Loong-2 large unmanned aerial vehicle to support teams tackling a forest fires. The UAV conducts aerial fire monitoring and telecommunications support in the battle against forest fires.
In addition, it has advanced its multi-drone systems which integrate reconnaissance and firefighting units with drones transmitting real time thermal and visual imagery to the ground teams and other drones, designed as fire suppression drones which target drops on the fire or is connected to water hoses from the ground. High resolution cameras and thermal imaging are being used to enhance the ground units of where and how quickly the fires are spreading. Special fire suppression payloads including foams, or powders to suppress the fires with many drones at once. Some Chinese drones integrate airborne satellite communication systems, broadband self-organizing networks, and act as aerial communication relays, strengthening links between ground teams and command centers in remote wildfire zones
Jeffrey Newman is a whistleblower lawyer in healthcare fraud and tariff fraud cases. His firm’s site is www.JeffNewmanLaw.com and he can be reached at Jeff@Jeffnewmanlaw.com or at 978-880-4758
