Rosy Shield

What it does

Rosy Shield is a proactive fire defense system that deploys autonomous pods from the air to create a biodegradable foam barrier in the projected path of megafires — stopping them before they escalate.

Your inspiration

Witnessing the recurring, devastating wildfires in regions like the Mediterranean and California, it was clear that conventional firefighting methods were outmatched. We saw a critical gap between early detection and effective intervention. This led us to a new strategy: instead of fighting the fire, we must contain its spread. The inspiration for our solution came from nature and efficient engineering: the high-volume deployment of an airbag, the stable autorotation of a sycamore seed for precise delivery, and the simple, responsive mechanics of a pinecone. We combined these principles to create a new, proactive defense.

How it works

Rosy Shield is deployed from a standard aircraft. Upon release, its wings open, causing the unit to autorotate like a sycamore seed for a slowed, stable descent. As the capsule descends, the airflow forces the wings to unfold. This mechanical action releases the locking pin that holds the spring-loaded piston in place. Freed from its tension, the piston instantly injects the sealed container of dry chemical powder into the main liquid chamber. The resulting hyper-volumetric reaction generates immense foam pressure within seconds. This pressure ruptures the biodegradable PHA shell in a controlled burst, deploying a massive fire-retardant barrier onto the vegetation below.

Design process

Our design process began by targeting the core failures of aerial firefighting: inefficiency and inaccuracy. This led us to pivot from an operator-assisted concept to a fully autonomous system for wider compatibility and unmanned intervention. The unit's form was driven by biomimicry. Its water-droplet shape provides aerodynamic stability, and its high-contrast color ensures visibility. For precise delivery, we engineered autorotation wings inspired by the complex folding mechanics found in nature, like those of earwigs. Internally, the challenge was reliably separating and mixing the components. Our innovation is a spring-loaded piston where the spring's own tension creates a perfect seal for the dry chemical chamber. Upon activation, it forcefully injects the powder into the liquid, and a catalyst is used to control the reaction time. Our material philosophy prioritizes eco-friendly solutions like a biodegradable PHA shell and a foam (APP) that doubles as a fertilizer. For the essential aluminum frame, we engineered a circular lifecycle; it's equipped with a heat-resistant GPS beacon for post-fire retrieval and reuse. We are currently validating these systems via isolated component testing, focusing on the chemical reaction, deployment dynamics, and structural integrity

How it is different

Unlike conventional methods that reactively attack existing flames, Rosy Shield is a proactive barrier system. It doesn't fight where the fire is; it strategically contains where the fire will be, fundamentally changing the approach from suppression to containment. The key technological difference is our hyper-volumetric foam generation. Instead of carrying bulky, pre-mixed liquids like current retardants, our compact units carry a dry formula that expands over 30 times its volume upon activation. This solves the critical payload inefficiency of air tankers, allowing for longer and more effective barriers per flight. Finally, our system is designed for a circular lifecycle. The foam is biodegradable and its core component acts as a fertilizer, while the reusable aluminum frame is retrieved via GPS. This stands in stark contrast to chemical retardants that can contaminate soil and waterways.

Future plans

Our immediate goal is to secure funding for physical prototyping. This will allow us to move from simulation to field testing, giving us the critical data needed to optimize our foam formula and the capsule's descent dynamics. Development will also focus on refining the activation mechanism, such as integrating a cam-based timer for greater precision. Our long-term vision is to enhance current fire prediction systems with an integrated AI. This will enable a future defense network of precise drone swarms and pre-positioned ground launchers, creating a truly responsive and intelligent system to protect our communities and ecosystems.

Awards

Nominating Lesser version of our Project: Prototypes For Humanity Environment Section 2024, Green Concept Award 2024