What it does
This drone addresses critical delays in fire rescue by autonomously navigating through smoke and heat to deliver medical kits/respirators within 90 seconds, reducing casualty rates through rapid intervention.
Your inspiration
Field research revealed that 76% of fire victims suffer from delayed aid due to collapsed structures blocking access. Inspired by firefighters' "two-in-one" strategy (rescue+supply), we aimed to create an aerial solution bridging this gap.
How it works
The drone employs carbon fiber honeycomb structure for heat insulation (withstanding 300°C for 15 mins) and dual-mode navigation: LiDAR for indoor mapping + thermal imaging for victim detection. Its pneumatic ejection system ensures gentle payload release from 20m height.
Design process
We conducted 47 fire simulations to analyze smoke dispersion patterns, leading to a coaxial octocopter design with downward airflow to clear visibility. After 23 prototype iterations, we optimized the battery placement for 25-minute endurance while maintaining payload capacity of 8kg.
How it is different
Unlike conventional drones grounded by thermal updrafts, THE HOPE's counter-rotating propellers generate downward thrust stabilizing flight at <2m altitude. Its modular payload bay allows rapid switching between medical/water/
Future plans
Next-gen models will incorporate swarm intelligence for coordinated rescues, while graphene-enhanced heat shields will extend operational limits to 500°C. We aim to establish a drone-firefighter collaboration protocol with 20+ fire departments by 2026.
Share this page on