SBIR Phase 2: Reducing Wildfire Risk with Large Scale Prescribed Fire Drones

Existing aerial controlled ignition solutions are expensive and dangerous or limited in range andinefficient.Parallel Flight Technologies (PFT) and Drone Amplified (DA) propose to develop anaerial controlled ignition solution to significantly expand Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)prescribed burn capabilities to more than 1000 acres per flight/charge. PFT will build a hybridelectric UAS with a 10x advantage over current all-electric sUAS that is capable of carrying DA'sscaled-up Plastic Sphere Dispenser (PSD) system. The combined team will integrate the large PSDwith the enhanced UAS for testing in the field. The proposed solution will be safer and offersignificant cost savings for the US government and private sector.Targeted project objectives include demonstrating:1) ability to carry and deploy at least 2000ignition spheres per flight/charge; 2) ability to drop spheres with equal or better effectiveness thancurrent solutions; 3) ability to obtain real-time thermal and visual camera data; 4) ability to fly overone hour with large PSD; 5) ability to refuel the UAS in the field in five minutes or less without theneed for large generators to charge large batteries.This application addresses Topic Area 8.1 - Forests and Related Resources supports USDA FY2018-2022 Strategic Plan Objective 6.3 "Mitigate Wildfire Risk" under Strategic Goal 6 "EnsureProductive and Sustainable Use of our National Forest System Lands" by enhancing Forest Serviceprescribed burn capabilities while reducing the cost of such activities and addresses USDA NIFApriority areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy.