The US Forest Service will put NASA’s unmanned Ikhana aircraft, which is equipped with an infrared sensor, on emergency standby during fire season this summer. Ikhana is better than imaging satellites because it can see through smoke and transmit data that has been laid over Google maps live to crews on the ground.
NASA’s Ikhana is a Predator B unmanned aircraft system built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The plane has been adapted for environmental science and technology research missions. Every flight is coordinated with the FAA coordinate the flights of the remotely piloted aircraft in the national airspace in order to assure safety.
Heat-Sensing Aircraft
USFS' Unmanned 'Ikhana' Fire Scouting Planes On Standby
Trend Themes
1. Heat-sensing Technology - The use of heat-sensing technology in aircraft allows for improved visibility through smoke and enhanced data transmission.
2. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) - The deployment of unmanned aircraft systems in fire scouting operations provides efficient and effective monitoring capabilities.
3. Integration of Infrared Sensors - The integration of infrared sensors into aircraft opens up new possibilities for environmental research and monitoring missions.
Industry Implications
1. Emergency Response - The emergency response industry can leverage heat-sensing aircraft to enhance situational awareness and response efforts during wildfires or other disasters.
2. Aerospace and Defense - The aerospace and defense industry can explore the use of unmanned aircraft systems with heat-sensing capabilities for various surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.
3. Environmental Research - The field of environmental research can benefit from the integration of infrared sensors in aircraft to gather valuable data for studying climate patterns and monitoring natural resources.