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German‑Czech Project Tests Drone and AI System to Detect Forest Fires

A public demo showed tree‑mounted gas sensors that can trigger 24/7 ground drone stations whose thermal video is analysed in real time by AI, with four operational drones planned for the Bavarian–Bohemian border next spring.

Overview

  • The CTRL‑F project, which held a public demonstration Wednesday, tested an integrated early‑warning setup in the Neubürger/Neubäuer Forst near Roding.
  • Tree‑mounted gas sensors detect combustion gases across the test area and can automatically trigger drone launches or be started manually by local fire brigades.
  • Drones are stored in fixed, weatherproof ground stations and stream thermal camera footage that a live AI workflow analyses to locate hot spots and smouldering embers.
  • Project partners include NeuralDrones, KI64, Czech firm DronySIT, Hochschule Ansbach, Landkreis Cham and municipal fire services and the effort is framed as an EU model project.
  • The effort remains in a test phase under a three‑year plan and aims to deploy four operational drones along the Bavarian and Bohemian border from next spring after further trials and regulatory clearance.