NASA Predator drone is flying missions on California fires

Drones Spot Fires

NASA calls their version of the aircraft "Ikhana," a name derived from a Native American Choctaw word that means intelligent, conscious or aware. Dryden Research completed a six-month process to obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the FAA allowing Ikhana to fly wildfire-sensing missions in the national air space of the western states.

A NASA Predator B drone is flying missions over Californian wild fires to test out new gear for spotting fires, the agency reports.

Press release

The first flight of the series Aug. 16 captured images of California wildfires, including the Zaca Fire in Santa Barbara County. The aircraft carried instruments that collected data while flying more than 1,200 miles during a 10-hour period.

"These tests are a ground-breaking effort to expand the use of unmanned aircraft systems in providing real-time images in an actual fire event," said Vincent Ambrosia, principal investigator of the Western States Fire Mission at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "This is a prime example of NASA science and technology being used to solve real-world problems."

"The images from the flight demonstrated that this technology has a future in helping us fight wild land fires," stated Zaca Incident Commander Mike Dietrich. "We could see little on the ground since the fire was generating a lot of smoke and burning in a very remote and inaccessible area. This technology captured images through the smoke and provided real time information on what the fire was doing," said Dietrich.

Pilots from NASA and Ikhana manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. operate the aircraft from a ground control station at Dryden, located at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. NASA sponsorship is provided by the agency's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C.

The aircraft is a scientifically focused version of the already-proven Predator technology, complete with a sensor that can detect temperature differences from less than one-half degree to about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Detailed thermal imagery of wildfires can be sent real-time anywhere in the world through a satellite data link.

For photos and illustrations supporting the wildfire imaging mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/newsphotos/index.html

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home

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