With concerns growing about California’s wildfire season, researchers in the San Francisco Bay Area are testing a new method to fight these fires. The startup Rain is working on a way to stop wildfires before they spread.
“At the end of the day, it’s about providing enough speed and force to knock down the flames,” says Max Brodie, CEO of Rain.
The company is developing software for fully autonomous drones equipped to find and fight wildfires. Based at the former control tower of the Alameda Naval Air Station, Rain uses a network of smoke-spotting cameras already installed in fire-prone areas. These drones can be launched as soon as a fire is detected.
“We’ve been using this technology in the military for decades. These drones and autonomous aircraft are real,” Brodie explains.
Rain is collaborating with companies like Sikorsky, which makes Black Hawk helicopters. These helicopters can quickly drop water on target areas. However, the team wanted to make the water drops more efficient because some of the water can evaporate or be blown off course due to heat and wind.
To tackle this issue, Rain turned to engineering students at Stanford University. Students Chris Copans and Kristie Park brainstormed various ideas, such as using boba balls or consumable water packets. They eventually created biodegradable, water-filled pellets that can be controlled during airdrops. These pellets are made using a machine that typically wraps food snacks. After testing, they successfully dropped the pellets from a 32-foot tower.
Back at their headquarters, Rain’s engineers continue to refine the software to help guide the Black Hawk helicopters. They aim to use these autonomous aircraft to safely and effectively fight wildfires, keeping people out of dangerous situations.
Max Brodie was inspired to create this technology after witnessing the destructive effects of wildfires, particularly during the 2020 season when the skies turned orange. He believes now is the right time to develop this technology to revolutionize wildfire fighting.
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