The 6G-VERSUS research project promises to transform wildfire detection through use of state-of-the-art technology. More recently, it has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme. Showcased recently in Birmingham, the project seeks to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can address global challenges, particularly the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.
This collaborative effort brings together the latest in a specially-developed robotic dog and aerial drone system for wildfire attacks. The technology improves first responders’ situational awareness, so they can operate more effectively during emergencies and provide a greater level of service to the public. Wildfires have increased dramatically in terms of scale and intensity across West Yorkshire over the past few years. Local firefighting agencies are increasingly relying on cutting-edge techniques to forecast fire behavior and protect at-risk communities.
The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is actively participating in this project by utilizing advanced mapping tools and weather forecasting applications. To that end, they’ve rolled out new, lightweight personal protective equipment to better protect their teams while responding to these sudden wildfire events.
Dr. Kamran Mahroof, a central member of the 6G-VERSUS research consortium, called creating solutions for this problem one of the most urgent tasks on the agenda. He stated, “Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.” He stressed that the chief intent of the project is to help detect wildfires at the earliest possible stage.
Our research team is thrilled to be headed to Greece early next year for a pilot demonstration of their technology. As always, this year, Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis from the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) will be in charge of this endeavor.
“In the Greek pilot of SNS-JU 6G-VERSUS, we’re developing a combined robotic dog and aerial drone system that boosts situational awareness for first responders during wildfires,” explained the team involved in the project. The integration of cutting-edge technologies like 6G connectivity, drones, and robotic dogs aims to enhance response times and resource allocation in wildfire emergencies.
Dr. Mahroof elaborated on the technology’s capabilities, stating, “By applying AI to interpret real-time camera feeds and using 6G links to relay the data, we can help teams quickly identify people at risk and deploy resources where they’re needed most, all while keeping responders safe.” He underscored that their approach is to detect where wildfire dangers are at risk first, so they can reduce the most damaging disasters.