Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a revolutionary method of utilizing multiple swarms of drones to combat the escalating threat of forest fires, which have intensified due to the effects of climate change. According to Suresh Sundaram, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IISc, this innovative use of drones could be the solution to curbing these devastating natural disasters.
Although the use of drones is not entirely new, Sundaram's team has taken this technology a step further in their recent study published in IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics: Systems. The team's proposal involves coordinated multi-swarm drones working together to extinguish raging forest fires.
Sundaram explains, "By the time a fire is detected and reported, it has likely already begun to spread and cannot be contained by just one drone. It requires a swarm of drones working together, communicating with each other." To achieve this, the team has designed a specialized algorithm that enables the drones to communicate and make independent decisions.
In a hypothetical scenario, when a potential fire is detected, the swarms can be deployed, with each drone equipped with cameras, thermal and infrared sensors, and temperature detectors to detect and track the fire. The drone closest to the fire acts as the center of the swarm and attracts other drones towards it. Each drone also has the autonomy to calculate the size and potential spread of the fire and determine the number of drones needed to effectively extinguish it.
"This decision-making process is carried out by the drones themselves," says Sundaram. "They analyze which cluster of fire is most likely to spread and allocate the necessary number of drones to put out that fire while the other drones search for additional fire clusters." The team's algorithm, which is based on the foraging behavior of a marine predator called Oxyrrhis marina, plays a crucial role in controlling the drones' behavior. This behavior involves taking longer steps to explore the area, followed by shorter, more detailed steps upon detecting a food source. Similarly, the drones' temperature sensors reduce their search step once they reach a minimum threshold, indicating the fire is nearby.
One of the major advantages of using drones is that the decision-making process is decentralized and based on data, resulting in maximum efficiency. Only the required number of drones will be assigned to a fire cluster, allowing the others to search for additional clusters. While the team has tested specific components of their approach, full-scale field testing is yet to be conducted. They also plan to integrate unmanned ground vehicles into the swarms to carry resources and serve as refueling stations for the drones.
Apart from forest fires, these drone swarms can also be useful in other natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. They can be used to locate survivors, deliver essential supplies, and facilitate communication. The potential of this technology in tackling such calamities is immense and could greatly aid in disaster relief efforts.