Firefly Communication Drone

2023 ~ Undergraduate Thesis

FIREFLY is a specialized drone that functions as a radio repeater for wildland firefighting crews. It overcomes the limited range of radio communication in remote areas by utilizing a HamShield mini radio repeater to boost signal coverage. FIREFLY’s design is both sleek and easy to repair, making it a more practical solution than consumer level drones currently used for wildland firefighting.

With FIREFLY, wildland firefighting crews can safely monitor the risk levels they are exposed to and receive real-time feedback on the location of fires and available field resources.

Design Mentorship: Aaron Scott, Sean Stumpf, & Chad Stuemke