Assessment of the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles to extinguish fires in warehouse complexes

Introduction. Modern warehouses are complex facilities characterized by a high concentration of material assets, while the risk of large-scale fires necessitates rapid fire localization. Conventional methods fail to provide the required response speed; therefore, automated “detection – targeting – suppression” systems employing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are proposed.

Aim. To assess the feasibility of rapid-fire suppression in warehouse complexes using autonomous UAV and to propose its conceptual framework.

Purposes. To analyze existing fire suppression methods and substantiate the need for a rapid-response system; to develop a closed-loop concept incorporating detection, targeting, and suppression subsystems; to build a mathematical model for determining the required number of UAV; and to perform a comparative simulation of fire detection time using smoke detectors and video monitoring.

Materials and methods. We used systems analysis; detection times were estimated by simulating fire and smoke propagation in a typical warehouse with Fire Dynamics Simulator. The UAV-quantity model applied a geometric approach with corrections for three-dimensional space and shelving. Comparative assessment relied on modelling data.

Theoretical bases. The work is based on the laws of thermal radiation and light scattering, as well as the fundamental principles of dynamics and kinematics.

Results and discussions. A mathematical model was developed to determine the number of UAV, taking into account the warehouse area and response time; Simulation showed that a video surveillance system with smoke detection identifies the source of a fire in less than 10 s and outperforms traditional smoke detectors in terms of speed; the possibility of using multi-rotor UAV with a payload of around 20 kg for the targeted delivery of fire-­extinguishing agents was considered.

Conclusions. The results obtained confirm the effectiveness of using UAV to reduce the time between detection and the start of firefighting; the model developed enables the system’s configuration to be optimized; the proposed closed-loop system is capable of enhancing fire safety in warehouse complexes.

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