Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a fire detection system and particularly to a real-time fire detection and suppression system.
Description of Related Art
[002] Fire incidents pose a significant threat to life, property, and the environment. Traditional firefighting methods primarily depend on ground-based teams and vehicles, which often face serious accessibility challenges in urban high-rise structures and dense natural landscapes. Aerial firefighting using helicopters and planes provides some relief but remains costly, imprecise, and often unsuitable for smaller or confined areas. Furthermore, integrated fire safety systems such as sprinklers and alarms in buildings serve preventive roles but do not always address fire suppression once ignition occurs.
[003] Technological advancements have introduced firefighting drones equipped with thermal cameras, AI analytics, and tethered power systems. Companies such as Advanced AI Solutions, FlyPix AI, and Elistair have developed various drone systems to detect fires early and assist response efforts. These solutions, along with IoT-based fire monitoring devices, enhance fire detection capabilities but often fail to deliver full autonomy, real-time adaptive suppression, and efficient resource management. Current commercial practices show significant dependence on human intervention and centralized infrastructure, limiting their effectiveness in dynamic fire scenarios.
[004] Despite these advancements, existing systems show notable gaps in scalability, speed, and precision. Ground response teams continue to struggle with traffic and terrain, while aerial vehicles incur high operational costs. Fire detection technologies often lack immediate suppressive actions based on real-time data assessments. Environmental impacts from water-based aerial suppression methods also raise concerns about ecological disturbances.
[005] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven autonomous real-time fire detection and suppression system that can administer the aforementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system. The system comprising a primary drone. The primary drone comprising a flight engine adapted to pilot the primary drone on a location within a premise with the fire outbreak. The primary drone further comprising a fire detection unit adapted to capture fire outbreak data selected from fire outbreak parameters, images, videos, or a combination thereof. The primary drone further comprising a primary fire suppression unit adapted to extinguish the fire outbreak. The primary drone further comprising a processing unit communicatively connected to the fire detection unit and to the primary fire suppression unit. The processing unit is configured to receive the fire outbreak data from the fire detection unit; evaluate a scale of the fire outbreak by analyzing the fire outbreak data using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique; enable deployment of secondary drones at the location with the fire outbreak, when the evaluated scale of the fire outbreak is above a first threshold level and below a second threshold level; and activate the primary fire suppression unit of the primary drone and secondary fire suppression units of the secondary drones to extinguish the fire outbreak.
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for autonomous real-time fire detection and suppression. The method comprising steps of receiving a fire outbreak data from a fire detection unit; evaluating a scale of the fire outbreak by analyzing the fire outbreak data using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique; enabling deployment of secondary drones at a location with the fire outbreak, when the evaluated scale of the fire outbreak is above a first threshold level and below a second threshold level; and activating the primary fire suppression unit of the primary drone and secondary fire suppression units of the secondary drones to extinguish the fire outbreak.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system that can quickly reach fire locations without delay from ground traffic or terrain obstacles, significantly reducing the overall response time compared to traditional firefighting methods.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system that detects fire intensity and exact locations, enabling targeted deployment of extinguishing agents and minimizing resource wastage.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system that independently determines the number of drones and quantity of extinguishing agents required for effective suppression, eliminating the need for manual calculations and improving operational efficiency.
[0012] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system that allows ground officers to monitor the fire situation instantaneously, make informed decisions, and adjust strategies as the event unfolds.
[0013] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a real-time fire detection and suppression system that may communicate and collaborate autonomously to cover large or complex fire zones, ensuring comprehensive area management and providing adaptability for different fire scenarios.
[0014] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0015] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of A real-time fire detection and suppression system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a processing unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for autonomous real-time fire detection and suppression, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0022] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0023] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a real-time fire detection and suppression system 100 (hereinafter referred to as the system 100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may be adapted to pilot a single and/or a swarm of unmanned air vehicles to a location of fire outbreak. Further, the unmanned air vehicles may carry along a means of fire extinguishing for suppressing the fire outbreak.
[0025] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the system 100 may incorporate non-limiting hardware components to enhance the processing speed and efficiency such as the system 100 may comprise a primary drone 102, a flight engine 104, a fire detection unit 106, a primary fire suppression unit 108, a processing unit 110, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique 112, secondary drones 114a-114n, and secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hardware components of the system 100 may be integrated with computer-executable instructions for overcoming the challenges and the limitations of the existing systems.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the primary drone 102 may be a master drone of the swarm. The primary drone 102 may be adapted to inspect the fire outbreak. Further, the primary drone 102 may be adapted to suppress the fire outbreak when the fire outbreak may be on a comparatively smaller scale. Else, the primary drone 102 may call out the secondary drones 114a-114n to collectively suppress the fire outbreak. The primary drone 102 may be, but not limited to, a multi-rotor, a single-rotor, a fixed-wing, a hybrid VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) drone, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the primary drone 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The primary drone 102 may comprise the flight engine 104, the fire detection unit 106, the primary fire suppression unit 108, the processing unit 110, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique 112.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the flight engine 104 may be adapted to pilot the primary drone 102 on the location within the premise with the fire outbreak.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fire detection unit 106 may be adapted to capture fire outbreak data. The fire detection unit 106 may be adapted to transmit the captured fire outbreak data to the processing unit 110. The fire detection unit 106 may be adapted to transmit the captured fire outbreak data to a fire authority, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] The fire outbreak data may be, but not limited to, outbreak parameters, images, videos, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the fire outbreak data, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The fire outbreak parameters may be, but not limited to, an intensity, a spread, a potential hotspot, an affected area, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the fire outbreak parameters, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] The fire detection unit 106 may comprise elements such as, but not limited to, a thermal imaging camera, a heat sensor, a moisture sensor, a temperature sensor, an electrochemical based-nitinol layered substrate etched with gallium/indium, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any elements that may be encapsulated in the fire detection unit 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the primary fire suppression unit 108 may be adapted to extinguish the fire outbreak. The primary fire suppression unit 108 may be of a storage form factor that may be adapted to store firefighting material. The firefighting material may be, but not limited to, carbon dioxide gas, water, dry ice, aerosol foam, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the firefighting material, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] The primary fire suppression unit 108 may be motored by an electrical valve (not shown). Upon arrival of the primary drone 102 on the location within the premise with the fire outbreak, the processing unit 110 may transmit a digital signal to the primary fire suppression unit 108 which may in turn operate the electrical valve for dispersion of the firefighting material stored in the primary fire suppression unit 108 on the fire outbreak.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 110 may communicatively be connected to the fire detection unit 106 and to the primary fire suppression unit 108. The processing unit 110 may further be configured to execute computer-executable instructions to generate an output relating to the system 100. The processing unit 110 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) unit, a microprocessor, a development board, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 110 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 110 may further be explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the secondary drones 114a-114n may comprise the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n. The secondary drones 114a-114n may be adapted to answer the fire extinguishing calls, from the primary drone 102, for arrival at the location with the fire outbreak. The secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n in the secondary drones 114a-114n may further be actuated by the processing unit 110 for dispersion of the firefighting material stored in the secondary fire suppression unit on the fire outbreak. The firefighting material may be, but not limited to, carbon dioxide gas, water, dry ice, aerosol foam, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the firefighting material, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the secondary drones 114a-114n may be adapted to form strategic formations such as, linear, star, bus, hub, radial, and so forth over the fire outbreak for suppressing the fire outbreak swiftly and efficiently. In an embodiment of the present invention, the secondary drones 114a-114n may be the same drones as the primary drone 102. The secondary drones 114a-114n may comprise the same components as in the primary drone 102 and any of the secondary drones 114a-114n may be adapted to act as the primary drone 102. In another embodiment of the present invention, the secondary drones 114a-114n may be of a different type of the drones from the primary drone 102. The secondary drones 114a-114n may specifically be engineered for answering fire extinguishing calls from the primary drone 102.
[0036] In an exemplary scenario, if there may be a fire outbreak in an experimental chemical setup, then the flight engine 104 may pilot the primary drone 102 to the chemical setup. Further, the fire detection unit 106 may capture the fire outbreak data, and as the chemical setup may be of a smaller scale, the fire outbreak data may indicate a self-controlled fire. The indication of the self-controlled fire may enable the primary drone 102 to actuate the primary fire suppression unit 108 to extinguish the fire outbreak at the chemical setup.
[0037] In another exemplary scenario, if there is a fire outbreak in an electric vehicle, then the flight engine 104 may pilot the primary drone 102 to the electric vehicle. Further, the fire detection unit 106 may capture the fire outbreak data, and as the electric vehicle may be of a comparatively bigger scale, the fire outbreak data may indicate an uncontrolled fire. The indication of the uncontrolled fire may enable the primary drone 102 to call out the secondary drones 114a-114n. The secondary drones 114a-114n may arrive at the electric vehicle. Further, the primary drone 102 and the secondary drones 114a-114n may form the formation around the electric vehicle. Furthermore, the primary fire suppression unit 108 and the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n may together extinguish the fire outbreak at the electric vehicle.
[0038] In yet another exemplary scenario, if there may be a fire outbreak in a gas supply pipeline, then the flight engine 104 may pilot the primary drone 102 to the gas supply pipeline. Further, the fire detection unit 106 may capture the fire outbreak data, and as the gas supply pipeline may be of a continuous scale, the fire outbreak data may indicate a continuous fire. The indication of the continuous fire may enable the primary drone 102 to call out the secondary drones 114a-114n, and transmit the alert signal to the fire authority for the manual intervention. The secondary drones 114a-114n may arrive at the gas supply pipeline. Further, the primary drone 102 and the secondary drones 114a-114n may form the formation around the electric vehicle. Furthermore, the primary fire suppression unit 108 and the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n may together contain the fire until an arrival of the fire authority for the manual intervention.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the processing unit 110, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processing unit 110 may comprise the computer-executable instructions in form of programming modules such as a data receiving module 200, a data evaluation module 202, a swarm module 204, and a fire suppression module 206.
[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the fire outbreak data from the fire detection unit 106. The data receiving module 200 may be configured to transmit the fire outbreak data to the data evaluation module 202.
[0041] The data evaluation module 202 may be activated upon receipt of the fire outbreak data from the data receiving module 200. In an embodiment of the present invention, the data evaluation module 202 may be configured to evaluate a scale of the fire outbreak by analyzing the fire outbreak data using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique 112. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique 112 may further be configured to calculate an amount of the firefighting material that may be released from the primary fire suppression unit 108 and from the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n.
[0042] Upon comparison, if the scale of the fire outbreak is below a first threshold level, then the data evaluation module 202 may transmit a self-signal to the fire suppression module 206. Further, if the scale of the fire outbreak is above a first threshold level and below the second threshold level, then the data evaluation module 202 may transmit a first activation signal to the swarm module 204. Furthermore, if the scale of the fire outbreak is above the second threshold level, then the data evaluation module 202 may transmit a second activation signal to the swarm module 204.
[0043] The swarm module 204 may be activated upon receipt of the first activation signal from the data evaluation module 202. The swarm module 204 may be configured to enable deployment of the secondary drones 114a-114n at the location with the fire outbreak.
[0044] The swarm module 204 may be activated upon receipt of the second activation signal from the data evaluation module 202. The swarm module 204 may be configured to enable deployment of the secondary drones 114a-114n at the location with the fire outbreak, along the swarm module 204 may be configured to transmit the alert signal to the fire authority for the manual intervention for the fire suppression.
[0045] Upon deployment of the secondary drones 114a-114n at the location with the fire outbreak, the swarm module 204 may transmit a coordination signal to the fire suppression module 206.
[0046] The fire suppression module 206 may be activated upon receipt of the self-signal from the data evaluation module 202. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fire suppression module 206 may be configured to activate the primary fire suppression unit 108 of the primary drone 102. The activation of the primary fire suppression unit 108 may dispense the amount of the firefighting material, calculated by the data evaluation module 202, onto the fire outbreak for extinguishing the fire outbreak.
[0047] The fire suppression module 206 may be activated upon receipt of the coordination signal from the swarm module 204. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fire suppression module 206 may be configured to activate the primary fire suppression unit 108 of the primary drone 102 and the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n of the secondary drones 114a-114n. The activation of the primary fire suppression unit 108 and the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n may dispense the amount of the firefighting material, calculated by the data evaluation module 202, onto the fire outbreak for extinguishing the fire outbreak.
[0048] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fire suppression module 206 may be configured to collect a meta information relating to the fire suppression. The collected meta information may further be stored for post-incident analysis and improvements in future responses.
[0049] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for autonomous real-time fire detection and suppression using the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] At step 302, the system 100 may receive the fire outbreak data from the fire detection unit 106.
[0051] At step 304, the system 100 may evaluate the scale of the fire outbreak by analyzing the fire outbreak data using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique 112.
[0052] At step 306, the system 100 may compare the evaluated scale with the first threshold level. Upon comparison, if the evaluated scale may be less than the first threshold level, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 308. Else, the method 300 may proceed to a step 310.
[0053] At step 308, the system 100 may activate the primary fire suppression unit 108 of the primary drone 102 to extinguish the fire outbreak.
[0054] At step 310, the system 100 may compare the evaluated scale with the first threshold level and the second threshold level. Upon comparison, if the evaluated scale may be in between the first threshold level, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 312. Else, the method 300 may proceed to a step 314.
[0055] At step 312, the system 100 may activate the primary fire suppression unit 108 of the primary drone 102 and the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n of the secondary drones 114a-114n to extinguish the fire outbreak.
[0056] At step 314, the system 100 may compare the evaluated scale with the second threshold level. Upon comparison, if the evaluated scale may be greater than the second threshold level, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 316.
[0057] At step 316, the system 100 may activate the primary fire suppression unit 108 of the primary drone 102 and the secondary fire suppression units 116a-116n of the secondary drones 114a-114n to extinguish the fire outbreak and transmit the alert signal to the fire authority for manual intervention for the fire suppression.
[0058] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0059] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A real-time fire detection and suppression system (100), the system (100) comprising:
a primary drone (102), the primary drone (102) comprising:
a flight engine (104) adapted to pilot the primary drone (102) on a location within a premise with the fire outbreak;
a fire detection unit (106) adapted to capture fire outbreak data selected from fire outbreak parameters, images, videos, or combination thereof;
a primary fire suppression unit (108) adapted to extinguish the fire outbreak; and
a processing unit (110) communicatively connected to the fire detection unit (106) and to the primary fire suppression unit (108), characterized in that the processing unit (110) is configured to:
receive the fire outbreak data from the fire detection unit (106);
evaluate a scale of the fire outbreak by analyzing the fire outbreak data using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique (112);
enable deployment of secondary drones (114a-114n) at the location with the fire outbreak, when the evaluated scale of the fire outbreak is above a first threshold level and below a second threshold level; and
activate the primary fire suppression unit (108) of the primary drone (102) and secondary fire suppression units (116a-116n) of the secondary drones (114a-114n) to extinguish the fire outbreak.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (110) is configured to engage the primary drone (102) without assembling of the secondary drones (114a-114n), when the scale of the fire outbreak is below the first threshold level.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (110) is configured to transmit an alert signal to a fire authority for manual intervention for the fire suppression, when the scale of the fire outbreak is above the second threshold level.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique (112) is adapted to calculate an amount of a firefighting material to be released from the primary fire suppression unit (108) and from the secondary fire suppression units (116a-116n).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fire outbreak parameters are selected from an intensity, a spread, a potential hotspot, an affected area, or a combination thereof.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fire detection unit (106) comprises a thermal imaging camera, a heat sensor, a moisture sensor, a temperature sensor, an electrochemical based-nitinol layered substrate etched with gallium/indium, or a combination thereof.
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fire detection unit (106) is adapted to transmit real-time images and videos to a fire authority.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary fire suppression unit (108) comprises a firefighting material selected from carbon dioxide gas, water, dry ice, aerosol foam, or a combination thereof.
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary fire suppression units (116a-116n) comprise a firefighting material selected from carbon dioxide gas, water, dry ice, aerosol foam, or a combination thereof.
10. A method (300) for autonomous real-time fire detection and suppression, the method (300) is characterized by steps of:
receiving a fire outbreak data from a fire detection unit (106);
evaluating a scale of the fire outbreak by analyzing the fire outbreak data using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) computational technique (112);
enabling deployment of secondary drones (114a-114n) at a location with the fire outbreak, when the evaluated scale of the fire outbreak is above a first threshold level and below a second threshold level; and
activating the primary fire suppression unit (108) of the primary drone (102) and secondary fire suppression units (116a-116n) of the secondary drones (114a-114n) to extinguish the fire outbreak.
Date: May 06, 2025
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant