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NASA Drone's Sensors Battle California Wildfires

Posted by samzenpus on from the not-just-blowing-smoke dept.

An anonymous reader writes "California is burning, but according to this article advanced sensors on NASA's Ikhana unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can detect exact temperatures (within half a degree) through the smoke, enabling the drone to spot for the firefighters battling the more than 300 wildfires. NASA's Ikhana is the same aircraft as the Predator, except it's being used here to save lives."

3 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Same as Predator by Kamokazi · · Score: 3, Interesting

    And another thank you. It drives me nuts when people use anything as an opportunity to bash anything related to the military.

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  2. NASA, NASA, NASA by camperdave · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is it just me, or has there been a lot of NASA related news lately?

    Mars Lander's Robot Arm Shuts Down To Save Itself
    Phoenix Mars Lander To Begin Rasping Ice Shavings
    NASA Contractor Needs Urine
    NASA Drone's Sensors Battle California Wildfires

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  3. AUAV next step by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Now we just need a swarm of automatic choppers which can then be directed by a point and click interface at command and control.

    "Suppress "this" area."

    or an emergency button for crews on the ground:

    "drop water on me."

    It would be like the roomba of California.