WO2024019643A1

WO2024019643A1 - Method for detecting and extinguishing fires and system for carrying out same

Info

Publication number: WO2024019643A1
Application number: PCT/RU2023/050177
Authority: WO
Inventors: Максим Антонович МАРТЫНОВ
Original assignee: Максим Антонович МАРТЫНОВ
Priority date: 2022-07-21
Filing date: 2023-07-21
Publication date: 2024-01-25

Abstract

The inventions relate to a method for detecting and extinguishing fires, as well as a system for carrying out said method. The method consists in using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a control module. Said UAVs carry out surveillance, detect outbreaks of fire and determine and transmit data about an outbreak of fire, as well as the coordinates and parameters thereof, to the control module, which, using the data received, constructs a mathematical model of the spread of the fire, determines a fire-extinguishing procedure and a flight path, and controls one or more firefighting UAVs. Upon receiving a signal indicating an outbreak of fire, the UAVs take off and fly to the site of the outbreak, where they carry out the fire-extinguishing procedure before returning. The UAVs continue to monitor the site of the outbreak, send data about same and perform flights to extinguish the outbreak of fire until it has been completely eliminated, thus permitting more efficient detection, fighting and containment of fires.

Description

METHOD FOR DETECTING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND SYSTEM FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of fire extinguishing and can be used to detect, record, predict the spread and extinguish fires.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

A mobile complex is known, which is an all-terrain vehicle equipped with specialized emergency rescue equipment: an aircraft-type UAV of short and medium range, a small-sized helicopter-type UAV) equipped with a set of replaceable target load modules, a ground control station, a video terminal, radio communications, a portable autonomous weather station, a set of life support equipment, elastic and mechanical starting devices for aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as batteries for unmanned aerial vehicles and other on-board and ground equipment to provide a radio telemetry communication system. The coordinates of emergency areas are determined using a satellite navigation system. General management is carried out from the headquarters for managing the rescue operation (according to patent RU2612754, class B64C 39/02, A62C 3/02, G01W 1/04, published 03.13.17).

The disadvantage of this complex is that it can only be used to monitor and detect emergency situations without the ability to prevent or eliminate them.

An aviation complex is known, which includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with folding and unfolding load-bearing surfaces, equipped with equipment for detecting and identifying fire sources, an on-board tank, an automatic water filling system, a self-propelled mobile control center BILA, which ensures adjustment of the flight task, an operational and technical vehicle service. During a fire-hazardous period, the aviation complex is moved to the site to launch a UAV, which carries out monitoring and extinguishing. With the help of an operational and maintenance machine, it replenishes fuel and water reserves (according to patent RU2674640, class A62C 3/08, B64D 1/16, publ. 12/11/18).

The disadvantage of this complex is the presence of only one UAV in the complex, which limits the area in which it can operate effectively. A system for monitoring and extinguishing forest fires using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is known, which consists of many vertical towers in a mountainous area and attaching the UAVs to the vertical towers so that they can take off and land on them. Forest fires are monitored using BILA. If a forest fire is detected, it can be extinguished by dropping fire extinguishing bombs from the BILA. This allows you to quickly and effectively control and extinguish forest fires with minimal costs. Fire extinguishing bombs are loaded on the towers, which allows the extinguishing process to be carried out continuously (according to patent KR101912740, class B64F 1/00, B64F 1/12, B64D 47/08, B64D 1/02, publ. 10.30.18).

The disadvantage of this system is that the system uses UAVs of the same type, which must have sufficient carrying capacity to deliver fire extinguishing bombs, i.e. have relatively large dimensions, so their use for constant monitoring of the territory is impractical. Therefore, there is a need to install multiple towers for basing UAVs on them and from where the territory is monitored. There is also no possibility of predicting the development of a fire. All this reduces the efficiency and limits the use of this system, makes it less mobile, and increases capital costs and time for its deployment.

A robotic fire protection system is known, which includes a surveillance UAV, a robotic extinguishing vehicle made in the form of an extinguishing UAV, and a ground station for monitoring and controlling their flight with a human operator. The surveillance UAV is designed for continuous patrolling of a fire-hazardous area and monitoring the situation in the optical and infrared ranges using on-board surveillance equipment and data transmission to a monitoring and flight control station. Firefighting UAVs are equipped with containers with fire extinguishing agent, as well as their own means of monitoring the situation in the optical and infrared ranges. These observation tools serve for independent approximate orientation in space when flying in the direction of a fire and transmitting to the operator of the monitoring and flight control station the data necessary for accurately targeting the fire site and assessing its condition. Extinguishing UAVs are located on launchers in fire-hazardous areas. They are in a state of constant readiness for use. The operator of the monitoring and control station sets the direction, altitude and flight speed of the surveillance UAV and continuously receives video information from it. If a fire is detected, it gives the command to start the nearest to the fire site of a fire extinguishing UAV, and upon its arrival in a given area - a command to use a fire extinguishing agent. The UAV coordinates are determined using the GPS satellite navigation system (according to patent US6364026, class A62C 2/00, published 04/02/02).

The main disadvantage of this system is that the system is not suitable for extinguishing fires over large areas. Also, the known system requires the participation of a human pilot controlling the flight of the UAV from the ground, and preliminary arrangement of the area with launchers, which makes the known system expensive and difficult to maintain. The effectiveness of the system is low due to the inability to accurately hit the source of fire. Another disadvantage is the relatively high probability of a collision in the air between several UAVs at once.

The closest technical solution is an unmanned fire extinguishing system based on the group operation of UAVs, which includes a main UAV with electronic equipment, at least one auxiliary UAV capable of carrying a fire extinguishing bomb, and a ground station for making decisions and controlling these UAVs. The main UAV is equipped with a propulsion mechanism that provides flight power; digital radio module for exchanging data between the UAV and the ground fire control station and receiving appropriate instructions for extinguishing a fire; a camera to obtain information about the environment and the fire area, as well as to determine where fire extinguishing bombs are dropped; an infrared sensor to record the ambient temperature in order to prevent the UAV from entering an area with a high temperature; pressure sensor to detect heat flows and disturbances and air speed near the fire area. The auxiliary UAVs are configured to interact with each other as part of a group of UAVs, so that they perform a group mission in which they can simultaneously move in a given relative position and carry fire extinguishing bombs. In case of a small fire, one auxiliary UAV can be used. In case of a large fire, it is preferable to use from 2 to 12 auxiliary UAVs. If necessary, several auxiliary UAVs can carry one large fire extinguishing bomb, or each of them carries its own fire extinguishing bomb. The extinguishing bomb substance may contain carbon dioxide particles. Data from the main UAV's sensors is used for operational control of the collective flight of a group of auxiliary UAVs. Instructions are transmitted from the ground station to auxiliary UAVs through the main UAV (according to patent CN 109331360, class A62C 3/02, A62C 37/00, N05K 7/20, published 02/15/19). The disadvantage of this solution is that it is quite difficult to implement effective fire extinguishing in a rapidly changing situation. Another limitation is that this system provides for the use of only UAVs, excluding the use of aircraft, helicopters and other aircraft as carrier and reconnaissance aircraft. The known system has limitations in the accuracy of delivery of the fire extinguishing agent by each of the auxiliary UAVs, which affects the efficiency of fire extinguishing.

ESSENCE OF INVENTOR!

The technical result to be achieved by the proposed invention is to increase the efficiency of detecting and fighting fires, preventing their spread, as well as identifying violations of fire safety rules and determining responsibility for them.

This technical result is achieved by the fact that the method of detecting and extinguishing fires consists of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a control module and is distinguished by the fact that UAVs are divided into reconnaissance and firefighting, reconnaissance UAVs perform surveillance, detect fires, determine and transmit data about the source of the fire, as well as coordinates and parameters in the control module, which, based on the received data, creates a mathematical model of the spread of fire, determines the extinguishing order, the trajectory of movement and controls one or more firefighting UAVs, which, after receiving a signal about a fire, take off and follow to the place of the fire, where they extinguish the fire and then return back, while reconnaissance UAVs continue to monitor and send data about the fire, and firefighting UAVs fly out to extinguish the fire until it is completely eliminated.

In addition, the control module, based on the received data on the coordinates of the fire source, can determine the need to apply administrative measures.

In addition, communication between the UAV and the control module can be carried out via radio or GSM communication.

The described method is implemented using a fire detection and extinguishing system, which includes several UAVs and a control module and is characterized in that UAVs are divided into reconnaissance and firefighting UAVs, while reconnaissance UAVs can be helicopter-type aircraft (quadcopters) and/or tiltrotors , which have a docking station for recharging, and firefighting UAVs are helicopter- and/or airplane-type aircraft with internal combustion engines. In addition, the firefighting UAV can be equipped with fire extinguishing bombs (charges) containing carbon dioxide.

In addition, the system may additionally include a mobile base for servicing firefighting UAVs.

In addition, reconnaissance UAVs can be equipped with thermal imagers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The proposed invention is illustrated in Fig. 1, which shows a special case of the implementation of a fire detection and extinguishing system.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The fire detection system consists of a control module 1, a firefighting UAV 2 of aircraft type 3 or a helicopter type 4 with an internal combustion engine, reconnaissance UAVs 5 in the form of quadcopters 6 and tiltrotors 7 with docking stations 8.

The control module 1 is designed for two-way contact interaction with firefighting UAVs 2 and reconnaissance UAVs 5 via radio or GSM communication channel, as well as for generating a flight map, determining zones in which the detection of fires will not be alarming, archiving data copying and updating 3D GIS maps (GIS - geographic information system).

The control module 1 can be implemented by any known hardware and software, such as a personal computer or a more powerful workstation, including an industrial version, with appropriate software to perform its functions and implement the claimed method.

The firefighting UAV 2 is designed with the possibility of two-way continuous interaction with the control module 1 and movement along the coordinates to the source of the fire for the delivery of fire extinguishing bombs and their release.

For the deployment and maintenance of firefighting UAVs 2, a mobile base can be used, on which inspection and refueling takes place, as well as storage of fire extinguishing bombs

The fire detection and extinguishing system may contain a mobile base that provides storage and full maintenance of firefighting UAVs and specially packaged carbon dioxide charges

Reconnaissance UAV 5 is designed with the possibility of two-way continuous interaction with control module 1, transmitting data via 3D GIS coordinates of the flight map, detecting a fire, determining the type of fire, its coordinates and parameters (direction and speed of fire movement, strength and direction wind). The reconnaissance UAV 5 is equipped with a thermal imager to detect fires.

Reconnaissance UAVs 5 patrol the territory under the control of control module 1 along pre-designated routes. If it is necessary to charge the UAV 5, it returns to the docking station 8, which is equipped with a protective cover that opens when the UAV approaches and closes after it lands. The cover protects the docking station from external dirt, rain and snow.

When a fire is detected by one of the reconnaissance UAVs 5, the coordinates and parameters of the fire are transmitted to the control module 1, which, based on the data received, creates a mathematical model of the spread of fire, determines the extinguishing order, the trajectory of movement and controls one or more firefighting UAVs 2.

Firefighter UAV 2 takes off and is directed along a route preset by control module 1 to the source of the fire, where it eliminates it using fire extinguishing bombs.

Reconnaissance UAVs 5 continue to continuously monitor and transmit data about the source of fire to control module 1. If the firefighter UAV 2 failed to eliminate the source of fire in one flight, the flight is repeated taking into account adjustments based on data promptly received from reconnaissance UAV 5.

Constant interaction between the UAV and the control module eliminates the intersection of flight paths and collision of the UAV.

Simultaneously with the fight against the source of fire, the control module, based on the received data on the coordinates of the source of fire, can determine the need to apply administrative measures. The owner of the land plot is determined. The Ministry of Emergency Situations database checks whether there is a valid fire regime in this area. In accordance with the regulations governing the amount of fines and the data of the owner of the site, an Administrative Offense Act is drawn up and the amount of the fine is determined.

The fire extinguishing system makes it possible to increase the efficiency of detecting and fighting fires, to prevent their further spread, to determine the degree of responsibility when a fire is detected on personal plots, on the borders of populated areas where there is contact with forest belts, oil rigs, oil and gas refineries and chemical plants, forest and agricultural lands , near settlements and individual houses/estates. At the same time, the system ensures high accuracy of fire extinguishing charges of solid carbon dioxide or another substance by determining the coordinates of the fire source with high accuracy and using a firefighting UAV aimed at them. The use of a substance in the form of solid carbon dioxide to extinguish a fire is explained by the fact that it displaces oxygen in the air, which is especially important for the safety of people and animals.

The division of UAVs used into firefighting and reconnaissance allows the use of compact quadcopters and tiltrotors, which provide a long time in the air and the ability to fly long distances, which allows covering a large area, to monitor and detect fires. Large lifting vehicles are used as firefighting UAVs, which are capable of carrying a large number of fire extinguishing bombs (charges), and therefore extinguish fires with greater efficiency.

Thus, the method and system proposed in the invention increase the efficiency of detecting and fighting fires, preventing their spread and thereby ensuring the achievement of a technical result.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A method for detecting and extinguishing fires, which consists in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and a control module containing: the stage of detecting a source of fire, in which the unmanned vehicle carries out surveillance to detect the source of fire, the stage of data transmission and processing, in which data about the detected source of fire, and coordinates and parameters are also transmitted to the control module, which, based on the received data, compiles a mathematical model of fire propagation, determines the extinguishing order and the trajectory of the UAV, the extinguishing stage, at which the UAV, after receiving data on the mathematical model of fire propagation, the extinguishing order and the trajectory of movement, carries out extinguishing with fire extinguishing bombs with carbon dioxide, while data about the source of fire continues to be transmitted to the control module, which continues to process this data to compile a mathematical model of the spread of fire, determine the order of extinguishing in dynamics and connect additional UAVs to extinguishing to carry out a repeated stage of extinguishing, if necessary, until complete elimination of the source of fire.

2. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that communication between the UAV and the control module is carried out via radio or GSM communication.

3. Fire detection and extinguishing system for implementing the method according to claims. 1-2, containing several UAVs and a control module, while

The UAVs are configured to carry out at least one of monitoring, detecting fires and transmitting data about the fire, as well as coordinates and parameters to the module for controlling and extinguishing the fire with fire extinguishing bombs containing carbon dioxide; in this case, the control module is made with the ability, based on the received data, to create a mathematical model of fire propagation, determine the extinguishing order and the trajectory of the UAV.

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the system additionally includes a mobile base for servicing the UAV.

5 . The system according to clause 3 or 4, characterized in that the UAVs are equipped with thermal imagers.

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