Wildfires are a growing threat to people, property and ecosystems around the world, including regions where they were previously rare. In June 2026, the EU-funded HiCONNECTS project completed a successful demonstration of an AI-enabled, multi-drone system designed to deliver live information on active wildfires and their possible evolution. By combining autonomous robotics, edge AI and advanced sensing technologies, the system helps disaster response teams make faster, more informed decisions that improve safety while helping reduce the impact on ecosystems, biodiversity and critical infrastructure. In doing so, it demonstrates how intelligent robotics can support both emergency response and broader sustainability goals.
A 2024 study in Nature Ecology & Evolution (Increasing frequency and intensity of the most extreme wildfires on Earth ) found that the frequency of the world's most extreme wildfire events more than doubled between 2003 and 2023, with climate change understood to be a key factor exacerbating wildfire conditions globally. Large wildfires often occur in remote areas where dry vegetation provides abundant fuel and the terrain limits access for firefighting crews. Changing weather conditions can cause fires to spread rapidly and unpredictably, while the largest fires can even create their own highly localized weather systems, making their behavior even harder to anticipate.
When wildfires do break out, protecting people, infrastructure and natural ecosystems depends on making the right decisions at the right time. Fire commanders need accurate, timely information to determine where to deploy resources, establish firebreaks, protect vulnerable areas and safeguard personnel. Yet collecting, analyzing and sharing reliable information in an active fire zone remains a significant challenge.
Unlike traditional monitoring methods that rely on periodic satellite imagery or personnel operating in hazardous conditions, autonomous drones can continuously gather localized environmental intelligence. This allows decision-makers to respond to rapidly changing conditions while reducing the need to place people in dangerous environments. As robotics become increasingly intelligent and connected, they can serve emergency services operating under severe time and resource constraints.
Coordinated response to a global threat
The European research project HiCONNECTS brings together 64 partners from 15 countries to develop cloud and edge computing platforms that are sustainable and energy efficient – focusing on heterogeneous integration of traditional silicon wafers, high-speed electronics and photonics devices. Within the project’s Public Protection & Disaster Relief (PPDR) activities, it has been developing and demonstrating technologies for disaster response.
As part of this PPDR work, HiCONNECTS has developed a wildfire situational awareness platform to support decision-making in wildfire operations. The platform combines two specialized autonomous drones, one focused on monitoring the active fire and the other on assessing surrounding vegetation, with a dedicated communications sub-system that connects firefighters, team leaders and even remote experts. Together, these systems create a more complete real-time picture of evolving fire conditions, helping emergency teams make faster and more informed decisions.
NXP is working closely with hyperspectral imaging experts Qtechnology to integrate and demonstrate the vegetation monitoring drone. The drone gathers critical environmental information in areas that may be difficult, dangerous or inaccessible for human teams to reach directly, providing valuable insight into vegetation conditions that can influence wildfire behaviour.
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Better data to support better decision making
This drone provides critical environmental context about landscape and vegetation conditions that can influence fire behavior and spread. In particular, it collects live information about vegetation type and moisture levels, helping responders assess the amount of fuel available to a fire and identify areas at greater risk.
The data is collected using a hyperspectral camera from Qtechnology that combines RGB (red-green-blue) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensing technologies. Images are processed onboard and in real time by a novel image-analysis platform built on the NXP i.MX 95 application processor. This platform exploits advanced edge machine learning methods from CSEM that improve the accuracy and reliability of vegetation moisture estimation. By performing AI inference at the edge rather than transmitting large volumes of raw data for centralized processing, the system reduces communication requirements, improves responsiveness and contributes to the project's focus on efficient and sustainable computing infrastructure.
Flight control is handled by NXP's VMU-RT1176 real-time flight controller while NavQPlus provides companion compute capabilities for advanced navigation and secure VPN-based data connectivity over 5G. Alongside its enhanced data collection and fuel analysis capabilities, the drone showcases the growing role of autonomous robotics in public-safety applications. Its navigational and flight-control systems enable autonomous operation, while a high-precision landing system based on NXP's Trimension SR150 ultra-wideband (UWB) technology allows the aircraft to land accurately on designated platforms. The drone can collect and transmit data from areas that may be difficult for responders to access directly.
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Safer, more effective action against wildfires
Once collected, analyzed and synchronized with satellite-positioning information, the data is securely shared with the field command post through a private local 5G network. The information is presented as continuously updated geospatial maps showing terrain, vegetation characteristics and moisture estimates. These dynamic views help firefighting coordinators identify potential fire-spread corridors, prioritize monitoring activities and optimize deployment of people and equipment.
By improving understanding of how a fire is likely to evolve, the platform helps responders focus resources where they can have the greatest impact. Earlier and more informed intervention can help reduce damage to forests, wildlife habitats and critical infrastructure while enhancing firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.
Proven in the field
The vegetation drone has already completed multiple test flights to validate its ability to collect data and generate moisture estimates. In June 2026, it successfully completed its first full wildfire use-case demonstration during the HiCONNECTS project's final PPDR event in Finland, bringing together the vegetation and fire-monitoring drones, the communications sub-system and the edge-AI processing pipeline in a single live scenario.
As climate change continues to increase wildfire risk, technologies that combine intelligent robotics, advanced sensing and edge AI will play an increasingly important role in protecting communities and ecosystems. The HiCONNECTS demonstration illustrates how advances in autonomous robotics, edge AI and connectivity can be translated into practical sustainability outcomes. By turning environmental data into actionable intelligence, NXP-enabled drones help first responders protect forests, preserve ecosystems and safeguard communities.
