Tue, 01/18/2022
As part of its work highlighting innovators in the dynamic tech sector here in Nebraska and the region more broadly, the Nebraska Governance and Technology Center is reaching out to local tech leaders to ask them a few questions about their work, how they got started, and where they see their company headed in the future. Today we are featuring Carrick Detweiler of Drone Amplified, a company that utilizes drone technology with ignitable payloads to safely carry out and monitor prescribed burns on public and private lands. Its technology also leverages reconnaissance data to adapt missions in real-time based on observed fire behavior.
Tell us a little about Drone Amplified and the work that you do.
Drone Amplified is the pioneer in developing a drone-based aerial ignition system that is able to ignite backburns to contain wildfires and prescribed fires to help better manage our lands and reduce the risk of wildfires. On wildfires, backburns are used to burn the fuel (dead wood, leaves, etc) in a controlled way in advance of the main wildfire front so that when the main wildfire arrives, it does not have fuel and is easier to put out. Traditional techniques for conducting these burns either require putting people on the ground near fire or using expensive helicopters for aerial ignition. Our system, called IGNIS, is less costly to operate, more readily available than helicopters, and keeps firefighters safer.
IGNIS attaches to off the shelf drones. But the real thing that IGNIS brings is the tight integration between the ignition system, drone, and the needs of the firefighters. The firefighters are able to import the latest reconnaissance data from the fire into our ignition flight app to plan ignition missions and adapt them in real-time based on fire behavior. We also integrate numerous layers of safety to ensure that ignitions only occur in the right locations and at the right time.
The ability to quickly get an eye in the sky to identify and track the fire provides an increased level of situational awareness that keeps firefighters safer. Combining these realtime observations with the ability to quickly and safely set backburns, while keeping a distance from the fire, is changing the way that fires are managed. Firefighters do not need to just react to the fire, they can observe and change its behavior through strategic aerial ignition.
What led you to found Drone Amplified?
The concept behind IGNIS was originally developed in the NIMBUS Lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which I co-direct. We developed some very early prototypes as part of research we were doing sponsored by the National Science Foundation. After showing that the concept worked, we realized that there might be a commercial opportunity that would allow us to have a significant impact on the wildfire fighting community by saving lives, increasing availability of scarce aerial ignition systems, and we would be able to close the circle on the research we started.
How did you develop the concept?
At the UNL NIMBUS Lab, we have more than a decade of experience in developing unique payloads, software, and algorithms for drones. In particular, we have always focused on systems that interact with the environment and operate in harsh conditions. This project was a natural extension of some of our prior work and we were able to quickly develop and test prototype systems.
What early barriers did you face?
Fire and aviation are two highly regulated industries. We had to overcome a number of national regulatory hurdles. In addition, nearly all drones and drone parts come from China. This has created new barriers since the federal government and some states have now banned use of drones with Chinese parts.
What is the business climate like for tech companies in Nebraska?
Nebraska is a great place to live, work, and start companies. The startup community is growing and vibrant, yet at the same time it is very accessible. It is really easy to get meetings with and gain mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and everyone is willing to help make connections.
What advantages or challenges does Nebraska pose for a tech firm?
Hiring is always a challenge in that it can be difficult to attract people from out of state and there is certainly a shortage of tech workers in the state and nationally. Having UNL in town though has really helped as it is often possible to recruit some of the best and brightest to stay for exciting job opportunities after graduation.
Where do you see Drone Amplified heading over the next five to ten years?
Wildfires have been increasing in intensity and severity over the past decade, yet at the same time the firefighter workforce has not been able to grow to keep up. Firefighters are increasingly looking to new technologies, such as our IGNIS system, to increase their capabilities and effectiveness. In the coming years I expect that one of our drones will be operating on every fire since using our system not only saves money, but also saves lives.
