UAVOS, a leading developer of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles, has recently unveiled its latest innovation, the UVH-170 unmanned helicopter, designed specifically to assist in wildfire suppression efforts, even during nighttime operations. Equipped with state-of-the-art visible-light and thermal imaging cameras, the UVH-170 delivers crucial real-time geospatial mapping capabilities, validating the effectiveness of its “Gimbal 201” system in meeting the demands of firefighters on the field. With a remarkable flight endurance of up to 5 hours and a maximum payload capacity of 4 kg, the fully autonomous UVH-170 is adaptable to a diverse array of civilian and security-oriented sensors.
During operations, UAVOS pilots command the UVH-170 to maintain a safe altitude of 2000 ft above ground level, capturing video feeds along the perimeters of the wildfire. These feeds are promptly transmitted to a ground control station, where data specialists analyze the infrared imagery for actionable insights. By minimizing the latency between data acquisition and utilization, this approach enables firefighters to swiftly respond to rapidly evolving fire conditions.
CEO of UAVOS, Aliaksei Stratsilatau, emphasized the significance of deploying drones from a secure distance, stating, “By remotely identifying and pinpointing hotspots, drone pilots furnish essential information to fire management teams, facilitating efficient planning, resource allocation, and task prioritization. This method significantly accelerates response times and enhances the safety of personnel, compared to traditional ground surveys conducted amidst perilous terrain.”
Image source: Unmanned Systems Technology