Drones for Firefighting
Increase survival rates with technology.
Vision Aerial drones are proudly made in America.
Using Drones for Firefighting
First responders have an edge when using Vision Aerial drones for firefighting. Rapid deployment allows ground crews to quickly assess a scene. Coordinators are able to prioritize response and map fire boundaries from a birds-eye perspective. Additionally, thermal cameras allow crews to see through smoke to locate trapped people, detect hotspots, and keep the crew out of harm’s way.
Industry Applications:
- Situational Awareness
- Locate Missing People
- Detect Hotspots
- Map Fire Boundaries
- Coordinate Teams
Respond Rapidly
Increase Situational Awareness
See the Invisible
Improve Safety
Why Vision Aerial?
Rapid Deployment Saves Lives
Drones are superior to other aerial fire support because they deploy quickly. Vision Aerial systems deploy in less than two minutes. They are also portable for transport and have the ability to launch from the scene. In contrast, a helicopter or airplane pilot would need to perform a pre-flight check, wait for runway clearance, then fly to the location. The plane would also have to maintain a high altitude and make a wide circle over the area. In comparison, a drone can get up close and stay immediately over the scene.
Unmatched Situational Awareness
Fire crews leverage drones to map the scope of a fire, locate missing people, and plan a response. An aerial perspective makes it easier to determine how fast a fire is traveling and if it is shifting direction. Additionally, someone watching a video feed may coordinate ground teams, keeping them out of danger. Drones also provide 3D maps of terrain so wildland firefighters can be better prepared for the operation.
Technology That Can See Through Smoke
Thermal cameras are able to see what the naked eye can not. Firefighters may find trapped subjects or locate hotspots with a thermal camera mounted to a drone. Special sensors are also available to detect gas leaks or other toxic materials in a disaster.
Drones for Firefighting Improve Crew Safety
With a better view of the scene, coordinators are able to move crews out of danger. If a fire changes direction or a hotspot flares up, an eye in the sky provides the intel that ground crews need to react immediately.
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Why Use Vision Aerial Drones for Firefighting?
Rapid Deployment
Vision Aerial drones fold for easy transport. Go from case to flight in under 2 minutes.
Easy To Fly
Less than 4 hours of training time, intuitive controls, and ultra-smooth flight mean your team can focus on what matters.
Highly Adaptable
Our drones can carry all the best-in-class cameras and sensors. They easily adapt to support your missions as they evolve.
Capable Platforms
Long flight times combined with a substantial payload capacity ensure you have the power to get your job done.
Recommended System for Firefighting
Public Safety System (PSF)
The Public Safety Drone system (PSF) offered by Vision Aerial allows you to conduct an aerial survey a scene in both the visible light and the thermal spectrum. Perfect for applications like search and rescue, urban or wildland firefighting, and law enforcement. Detect hot spots or provide coordination for ground teams. Capture high-resolution images or video in real time.
Features quick deployment when time is of the essence, with less than a 2-minute setup. It is also easy to transport and comes in a weatherproof Pelican case that has compartments for all your accessories. It is also great for accessing hard to reach areas in rugged conditions, and it has an autonomous range of up to 16 km (10 mi) which is incredibly useful for search and rescue applications or monitoring wildfires.
The Indefinite Flight Package (IFP) allows you to charge extra batteries while you fly, enabling back-to-back missions. This system also includes 1-day of training at Vision Aerial’s Flight Center in Bozeman, Montana and a Second Year Warranty.
Key Features
- Less than 2-minute setup and breakdown
- Folds for easy transport in a weatherproof Pelican case
- Rugged construction to stand up to the elements
- Handles wind gusts up to 40 kph (25 mph)
- 16 km (10 mi) flight range†
- Indefinite Flight Package provides enough charging capacity and flight batteries to fly back-to-back missions
- Thermal and RGB camera for visual comparison
- RGB camera comes with Full HD (1920 x 1080 px) resolution
- Thermal camera can measure up to 1,500º C (2,732º F)
- 10x optical zoom
- Picture-merge feature allows you to merge a thermal image with an RGB camera image in real-time, even with 10x optical zoom
- Internal SSD disc with 256 GB memory for recording
What's Included
- SwitchBlade-Elite
- SwitchBlade-Elite Indefinite Flight Package (IFP)
- Workswell WIRIS Pro
- SwitchBlade-Elite Second-Year Warranty
- Training at Vision Aerial
Full Specifications
- SwitchBlade-Elite tricopter drone (Learn more)
- Indefinite Flight Package
- WIRIS Pro Body (640×512 px, 256 GB SSD, 30 Hz) with 13 mm (45° FOV) Lens (View Data Sheet)
- Payload mounting: Gremsy Pixy-WP gimbal (View Data Sheet)
Industry Information
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How the United States Forest Service Uses Vision Aerial Drones for Wildfire Management
The SwitchBlade-Elite is an innovative and reliable solution for the USFS. With its long flight time, powerful sensors, autonomous capabilities, and safety features, the drone helps the agency better manage its wildfire operations.