AI firefighting drones take aim at wildfires

Wildfires can get a frightening head start. A small ignition in remote terrain can grow while firefighters are still trying to reach it. Now, a new generation of AI firefighting drones could help shrink that response window.

CAL FIRE recently tested Seneca's autonomous suppression drones in California. Meanwhile, teams competing in the $11 million XPRIZE Wildfire competition put other autonomous systems through field testing in Alaska. The goal is to detect a fire early and get suppressant onto it while it is still small.

The timing is important. NOAA says human-caused warming is contributing to larger and more severe wildfires in California and the western United States. Research has also linked warming conditions with longer wildfire seasons in the Wes...