Progress 09/01/24 to 12/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:- Oct 2024: Attended the Wildfire Industry Collective annual meeting in Bozeman MT. - Nov 2024: Participated in the Red Sky Summit Technology Expo in San Francisco - Nov 2024: Participated in the United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) annual conference with a booth in Boise ID. - Dec 2024: Initiated discussions with SEAT Company regarding TACFI-RS demo on their AT-802 Air Tankers. - Dec 24: Briefed the NASA ACERO Program Changes/Problems:Trident Sensing planned to participate in the USFS FIre and Smoke Modeling Evaluation Experiment in October 2024the Utah FishLake NF. . During the reporting period we integrated and ground tested a TACFI-RS sensor to NASA FireSense's SUpervolo UAS. The plan was to conduct a manned/unmanned TACFI-RS demonstration. However, FASMEE 2024 was cancelled due to early snow at high elevations in the FishLake NF. As a result, Trident Sensing conducted additional manned flights over UT and WY late season wildfires. We are holding discussions for NASA FIreSense to incorporate a TACFI-RS manned/unmanned demonstration into the Spring 2025 FIreSense campaign in the SE US. We anticipate this to be a funded Phase III effort. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Trident Sensing conducted extensive outreach to wildfire community. Activities included having a booth at four wildfire tradeshows, attending wildfire related conferences, briefs to state and federal stakeholders and onsite visits to aerial wildfire service providers. Additionally, Trident sensing joined two industry associations which greatly expanded our reach. We joined the United Aerial Firefighting Association (UAFA) with participation on the UAS and Air Attack sub groups. We also joined the Wildfire Industry Collective (WIC). In addition to stakeholder outreach, this USDA sponsored SBIR provided many opportunities for college interns. Over the course of the Phase I and Phase II, no less than 10 software, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineers participated in design and test activities. We value cultivating STEM college students and provide them with meaningful real world engineering design activities. And many were hired on as full-time employees. Others were hired at the top software house in the Salt Lake valley. Many cited their real-world internship work experience at Trident Sensing as being key to a successful interview process. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Meeting the Primary Objectives: Full TACFI-RS Prototype: A full prototype TACFI-RS wildfire mapping system was designed and tested during the Phase II period of performance. Leveraging the Phase I concept demonstration as a starting point, Trident Sensing developed new sensors, demonstrated local on-platform map processing, transmission of fire map data across both cellular and satellite backhaul links, centralized cloud processing, and dissemination of data through a 3D map viewer website. Prototype TACFI-RS sensor with a fullcomplement of TIR cameras, improved data acquisition timing, and sufficient GraphicsProcessing Unit (GPU) processing for real time map processing. Threshold: Wingtip-to-wingtip coverage with WFOV cameras. Objective: Hi-Low camera mix with an array of WFOV andNFOV cameras. (i.e. provide mixed hi-low capability in a single sensor): Two flyable TACFI-RS Prototype sensors were designed, manufactured and tested over the course of the Phase II SBIR. One prototype was oriented towards air attack, lead plane, tanker, and helicopter missions. The sensor had a full complement of eight cameras, including an array of five LWIR thermal medium altitude cameras and an array of three low altitude cameras providing forward facing wingtip to wingtip coverage. The medium altitude array allows fire mapping at or above a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) and the low altitude array is suitable for tanker and helicopter missions. This camera met the Objective. A second camera prototype was designed and tested with a focus on low altitude UAS operations. The sensor has seven low altitude cameras that provide near hemispherical down looking coverage. This camera allows a small UAS at low altitude to see in all directions without much forward motion. This sensor is also suitable for low altitude helicopter operations. Real-Time Map Processing: Advance the map processing algorithms demonstrated inPhase I to airborne real-time processing: This objective was met by a combination of hardware and software. A second processor was added to the system architecture to enable simultaneous sensor data capture and map processing. One processor manages the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and thermal camera data capture logging and transmission to the map processor. The second processor performs all the map processing and data transmission across an IP based cellular or satellite link. The architecture successfully decoupled the time critical data capture function from the less time critical map processing and data transmission functions. Near Real-Time Map Transmission: Demonstrate download of airborne map data toa central server in near real-time. Threshold: Transfer data using a cellular network. Objective:Transfer data using an IP based satellite data link such as Iridium: The Phase II system architecture incorporated a Bluesky Networks integrated cellular and Iridium satellite data modem. The modem is set up to prefer the lower cost cell channel over the higher cost satellite channel. In the end it seamlessly transitions between the two networks. We demonstrated both cell and satellite data paths on multiple flights. Centralized Fire Map Aggregation: Demonstrate the core functionality to aggregatemaps from multiple airborne sensor platforms using quality metrics to express the best data: The map processing system was designed from the ground up to function in a multi-platform environment. Each aircraft offboards a "quality layer" in addition to the wildfire map data. They are aggregated in the cloud. A full multi-platform demonstration was planned for the FASMEE 2024 prescribed burn. However, early snow in the Utah Fishlake National Forest cancelled the burn. Although the basic multi-platform capability has been demonstrated in the lab, Trident Sensing is still working on a field demonstration. Considerable opportunity exists to combine multi-platform data in innovative ways. Map Dissemination - Demonstrate pushing time-based map products to end usersacross the Internet in common map formats: The TACFI-RS system includes a web based map viewer similar to Google Earth based on the Cesium open-source 3D map engine. The TACFI-RS viewer loops the fire map data similar to a weather radar. Time slice is selectable from 5 minutes to an hour. The website also includes a geoTIFF export feature that allows downloading map data for display on Common Operating Pictures (COP). Future development will include an Application Programming Interface (API) to allow automatic interfacing to COPs.

Publications

Progress 09/01/22 to 12/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Reached during Reporting Period: - Virtually attended the Fall 2022USDA USFS/NASA sponsored Tactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC) meeting in December 2022. Briefed the Advisory Committee on TACFI-RS progress and capabilities. - Attended the Spring 2023 USDA USFS/NASA sponsored Tactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC) meeting at NASA AMES in April 2023. Provided a brief on TACFI-RS development and anticipated capabilities. Networked with numerous stakeholders including USFS, CALFIRE, NOAA, NASA FIRESENSE, and NASA ACERO teams. Held discussions with other companies regarding commercialization. - Performed USDA/USFS end user outreach in June 2023. Travelled to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to brief Mr Sean Triplett, USFS Tools and Technology Team Lead, on the progress of TACFI-RS development and capabilities. - March 2024: Participated in the Wildland Fire CONOPS Workshop at NASA Ames. - April 2024: Sponsored a tradeshow booth showcasing TACFI-RS at the International Association of Wildland Fire - Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Boise ID. - April 2024: Surveyed Bridger Aerospace Air Attack and Super Scooper aircraft for TACFI-RS installs. - Oct 2024: Attended the Wildfire Industry Collective annual meeting in Bozeman MT. - Nov 2024: Participated in the Red Sky Summit Technology Expo in San Francisco - Nov 2024: Participated in the United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) annual conference with a booth in Boise ID. - Dec 2024: Initiated discussions with New Frontier Aviation regarding TACFI-RS demo on their AT-802 Air Tankers. Changes/Problems:No major changes or problems were experienced during the prototype design and manufacture stage. However, based on the award date and overall period of performance, it was difficult to synch up with real world wildfire testing opportunities. We extended the SBIR period of performance by four months to allow participation in the USFS Fire and Smoke Modeling Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) scheduled for October 2024. FASMEE is a large-scale prescribed burn in the Utah Fishlake National Forest. The goal is to produce an intense crown fire similar to a large wildfire. We participated in FASMEE 2023 with a very early prototype. But FASMEE 2024 was cancelled due to early snow. NASA was even going to fly the low altitude version of TACFI-RS on their Supervolo XL UAS. We integrated the payload and performed ground testing at our Ogden Airport facility. But in the end the manned and unmanned FASMEE demonstration was cancelled. As a substitute, we flew additional manned missions over fall Utah and Wyoming wildfires. The goal of conducting a simultaneous manned/unmanned demohasslipped into 2025. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Trident Sensing conducted extensive outreach to wildfire community. Activities included having a booth at four wildfire tradeshows, attending wildfire related conferences, briefs to state and federal stakeholders and onsite visits to aerial wildfire service providers. Additionally, Trident sensing joined two industry associations which greatly expanded our reach. We joined the United Aerial Firefighting Association (UAFA) with participation on the UAS and Air Attack sub groups. We also joined the Wildfire Industry Collective (WIC). In addition to stakeholder outreach, this USDA sponsored SBIR provided many opportunities for college interns. Over the course of the Phase I and Phase II, no less than 10 software, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineers participated in design and test activities. We value cultivating STEM college students and provide them with meaningful real world engineering design activities. And many were hired on as full-time employees. Others were hired at the top software house in the Salt Lake valley. Many cited their real-world internship work experience at Trident Sensing as being key to a successful interview process. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Meeting the Primary Objectives: Full TACFI-RS Prototype: A full prototype TACFI-RS wildfire mapping system was designed and tested during the Phase II period of performance. Leveraging the Phase I concept demonstration as a starting point, Trident Sensing developed new sensors, demonstrated local on-platform map processing, transmission of fire map data across both cellular and satellite backhaul links, centralized cloud processing, and dissemination of data through a 3D map viewer website. Prototype TACFI-RS sensor with a fullcomplement of TIR cameras, improved data acquisition timing, and sufficient GraphicsProcessing Unit (GPU) processing for real time map processing. Threshold: Wingtip-to-wingtip coverage with WFOV cameras. Objective: Hi-Low camera mix with an array of WFOV andNFOV cameras. (i.e. provide mixed hi-low capability in a single sensor): Two flyable TACFI-RS Prototype sensors were designed, manufactured and tested over the course of the Phase II SBIR. One prototype was oriented towards air attack, lead plane, tanker, and helicopter missions. The sensor had a full complement of eight cameras, including an array of five LWIR thermal medium altitude cameras and an array of three low altitude cameras providing forward facing wingtip to wingtip coverage. The medium altitude array allows fire mapping at or above a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) and the low altitude array is suitable for tanker and helicopter missions. This camera met the Objective. A second camera prototype was designed and tested with a focus on low altitude UAS operations. The sensor has seven low altitude cameras that provide near hemispherical down looking coverage. This camera allows a small UAS at low altitude to see in all directions without much forward motion. This sensor is also suitable for low altitude helicopter operations. Real-Time Map Processing: Advance the map processing algorithms demonstrated inPhase I to airborne real-time processing: This objective was met by a combination of hardware and software. A second processor was added to the system architecture to enable simultaneous sensor data capture and map processing. One processor manages the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and thermal camera data capture logging and transmission to the map processor. The second processor performs all the map processing and data transmission across an IP based cellular or satellite link. The architecture successfully decoupled the time critical data capture function from the less time critical map processing and data transmission functions. Near Real-Time Map Transmission: Demonstrate download of airborne map data toa central server in near real-time. Threshold: Transfer data using a cellular network. Objective:Transfer data using an IP based satellite data link such as Iridium: The Phase II system architecture incorporated a Bluesky Networks integrated cellular and Iridium satellite data modem. The modem is set up to prefer the lower cost cell channel over the higher cost satellite channel. In the end it seamlessly transitions between the two networks. We demonstrated both cell and satellite data paths on multiple flights. Centralized Fire Map Aggregation: Demonstrate the core functionality to aggregatemaps from multiple airborne sensor platforms using quality metrics to express the best data: The map processing system was designed from the ground up to function in a multi-platform environment. Each aircraft offboards a "quality layer" in addition to the wildfire map data. They are aggregated in the cloud. A full multi-platform demonstration was planned for the FASMEE 2024 prescribed burn. However, early snow in the Utah Fishlake National Forest cancelled the burn. Although the basic multi-platform capability has been demonstrated in the lab, Trident Sensing is still working on a field demonstration. Considerable opportunity exists to combine multi-platform data in innovative ways. Map Dissemination - Demonstrate pushing time-based map products to end usersacross the Internet in common map formats: The TACFI-RS system includes a web based map viewer similar to Google Earth based on the Cesium open-source 3D map engine. The TACFI-RS viewer loops the fire map data similar to a weather radar. Time slice is selectable from 5 minutes to an hour. The website also includes a geoTIFF export feature that allows downloading map data for display on Common Operating Pictures (COP). Future development will include an Application Programming Interface (API) to allow automatic interfacing to COPs.

Publications

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Reached during Reporting Period included State and Federal stakeholders and aerial firefighting service providers: - March 2024: Participated in the Wildland Fire CONOPS Workshop at NASA Ames. - April 2024: Sponsored a tradeshow booth showcasing TACFI-RS at the International Association of Wildland Fire - Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Boise ID. - April 2024: Surveyed Air Attack and Scooper aircraft Company for TACFI-RS installs. - May 2024: Presented a booth at the Air National Guard Domestic Operations Conference in Denver, CO. Changes/Problems:The period of performance was extended from 31 Aug 2024 to 31 Dec 2024 to accomodate participatioin in the USFS Fire and Smoke Modeling Evaluation Experiemnt (FASMEE) to be held in October 2024 in the Utah FIsh Lake NF. We are integrating a TACFI-RS sensor to the NASA FireSense Supervolo UAS and plan to conduct a simultaneous manned and unmanned TACFI-RS demonstration. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Trident Sensing conducted extensive outreach to wildfire community. Activities included having a booth at four wildfire tradeshows, attending wildfire related conferences, briefs to state and federal stakeholders and onsite visits to aerial wildfire service providers. Additionally, Trident sensing joined two industry associations which greatly expanded our reach. We joined the United Aerial Firefighting Association (UAFA) with participation on the UAS and Air Attack sub groups. We also joined the Wildfire Industry Collective (WIC). In addition to stakeholder outreach, this USDA sponsored SBIR provided many opportunities for college interns. Over the course of the Phase I and Phase II, no less than 10 software, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineers participated in design and test activities. We value cultivating STEM college students and provide them with meaningful real world engineering design activities. And many were hired on as full-time employees. Others were hired at the top software house in the Salt Lake valley. Many cited their real-world internship work experience at Trident Sensing as being key to a successful interview process. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The period of performance was extended from 31 Aug 2024 to 31 Dec 2024 to accomodate participatioin in the USFS Fire and Smoke Modeling Evaluation Experiemnt (FASMEE) to be held in October 2024 in the Utah FIsh Lake NF. We are integrating a TACFI-RS sensor to the NASA FireSense Supervolo UAS and plan to conduct a simultaneous manned and unmanned TACFI-RS demonstration.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Meeting the Primary Objectives: Full TACFI-RS Prototype: A full prototype TACFI-RS wildfire mapping system was designed and tested during the Phase II period of performance. Leveraging the Phase I concept demonstration as a starting point, Trident Sensing developed new sensors, demonstrated local on-platform map processing, transmission of fire map data across both cellular and satellite backhaul links, centralized cloud processing, and dissemination of data through a 3D map viewer website. Prototype TACFI-RS sensor with a fullcomplement of TIR cameras, improved data acquisition timing, and sufficient GraphicsProcessing Unit (GPU) processing for real time map processing. Threshold: Wingtip-to-wingtip coverage with WFOV cameras. Objective: Hi-Low camera mix with an array of WFOV andNFOV cameras. (i.e. provide mixed hi-low capability in a single sensor): Two flyable TACFI-RS Prototype sensors were designed, manufactured and tested over the course of the Phase II SBIR. One prototype was oriented towards air attack, lead plane, tanker, and helicopter missions. The sensor had a full complement of eight cameras, including an array of five LWIR thermal medium altitude cameras and an array of three low altitude cameras providing forward facing wingtip to wingtip coverage. The medium altitude array allows fire mapping at or above a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) and the low altitude array is suitable for tanker and helicopter missions. This camera met the Objective. A second camera prototype was designed and tested with a focus on low altitude UAS operations. The sensor has seven low altitude cameras that provide near hemispherical down looking coverage. This camera allows a small UAS at low altitude to see in all directions without much forward motion. This sensor is also suitable for low altitude helicopter operations. Real-Time Map Processing: Advance the map processing algorithms demonstrated inPhase I to airborne real-time processing: This objective was met by a combination of hardware and software. A second processor was added to the system architecture to enable simultaneous sensor data capture and map processing. One processor manages the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and thermal camera data capture logging and transmission to the map processor. The second processor performs all the map processing and data transmission across an IP based cellular or satellite link. The architecture successfully decoupled the time critical data capture function from the less time critical map processing and data transmission functions. Near Real-Time Map Transmission: Demonstrate download of airborne map data toa central server in near real-time. Threshold: Transfer data using a cellular network. Objective:Transfer data using an IP based satellite data link such as Iridium: The Phase II system architecture incorporated a Bluesky Networks integrated cellular and Iridium satellite data modem. The modem is set up to prefer the lower cost cell channel over the higher cost satellite channel. In the end it seamlessly transitions between the two networks. We demonstrated both cell and satellite data paths on multiple flights. Centralized Fire Map Aggregation: Demonstrate the core functionality to aggregatemaps from multiple airborne sensor platforms using quality metrics to express the best data: The map processing system was designed from the ground up to function in a multi-platform environment. Each aircraft offboards a "quality layer" in addition to the wildfire map data. They are aggregated in the cloud. A full multi-platform demonstration was planned for the FASMEE 2024 prescribed burn. However, early snow in the Utah Fishlake National Forest cancelled the burn. Although the basic multi-platform capability has been demonstrated in the lab, Trident Sensing is still working on a field demonstration. Considerable opportunity exists to combine multi-platform data in innovative ways. Map Dissemination - Demonstrate pushing time-based map products to end usersacross the Internet in common map formats: The TACFI-RS system includes a web based map viewer similar to Google Earth based on the Cesium open-source 3D map engine. The TACFI-RS viewer loops the fire map data similar to a weather radar. Time slice is selectable from 5 minutes to an hour. The website also includes a geoTIFF export feature that allows downloading map data for display on Common Operating Pictures (COP). Future development will include an Application Programming Interface (API) to allow automatic interfacing to COPs.

Publications

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Reached during Reporting Period: - Virtually attended the Fall 2022USDA USFS/NASA sponsoredTactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC) meeting in December 2022. Briefed the Advisory Committee on TACFI-RS progress and capabilities. - Attended the Spring 2023 USDA USFS/NASA sponsoredTactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC) meeting at NASA AMES in April 2023. Provided a brief on TACFI-RS development and anticipated capabilities. Networked with numerous stakeholders including USFS, CALFIRE, NOAA, NASA FIRESENSE, and NASA ACERO teams. Held discussions with other companies regarding commercialization. - Performed USDA/USFS end user outreach in June 2023. Travelled to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to brief Mr Sean Triplett, USFS Tools and Technology Team Lead, on the progress of TACFI-RS development and capabilities. - Held Phase III Commercialization Discussions: Conducted outreach to prospective investors who may support Phase III commercialization efforts Changes/Problems:No Major Changes or Problems have been encountered to date. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We continue to conduct Undergraduate and Graduate School engineering student outreach through our intern program. To date, three undergraduate software or mechanical engineering interns have worked on this program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The primary community of interest for wildfire aerial mapping is theTactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC). TFRSAC is co-sponsored by USDA/USFS and NASA. Mr. Stephen Pollard (PI) briefed the progress and capabilities of TACFI-RS at both the Fall 2022 and Spring2023 TFSAC conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our team will continue TACFI-RS prototype system development in year two. The "Functional Prototype" sensor systemwillproceedto a full scale airborne test at the October 2023 FASMEE prescribed burn. FASMEE provides an ideal controlled experiment that allows testing in a relevant environment. Following full scale testing of the functional prototype, design work will commence on the final "Conforming Prototype" system. The Conforming Prototype will be representative of a final configuration that can be installed on aircraft. The Conforming Prototype will be tested in Summer 2024. We anticipate producing the first Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) sensors for use by government agencies for the late 2024 fire season.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During year one of this two-year SBIR grant, Trident Sensing made major progress in researching and developing a full prototype TACtical FIre - Remote Sensor (TACFI-RS) system. TACFI-RS is a very compact and networked airborne wildfire mapping sensor. TACFI-RS is designed to be carried on all aircraft participating in wildland aerialfire fighting and will make every aircraft a wildfire mapping node. During Year 1 the team accomplished the following: - Developed system requirements - Performed high level hardware and software design - Performed detailed hardware design for Functional Prototype #1 - Performed Test Aircraft Integration - Developed prototype software - Performed subsystem testing - Coordinated future airborne flight testing opportunities - Briefed various stakeholders on TACFI-RS capabilities. - Conducted TABA activities to include needs assessment, marketing strategies and IP protection. We anticipate commencing flight test in Aug 23 (last month of the first year) and plan to perform full system testing over the USDA/USFS Fire and Smoke Modeling Exercise (FASMEE) prescribed burn in Oct 23. Objective #1 Status: Completed 90% of the Functional Prototype that includes eight Long Wave Infrared cameras meeting the objective high-low capability. We plan to start full scale testing in Aug 2023. Objective #2 Status: The Phase I map processing code has been completely revamped to run in real time. We anticipate demonstrating this capability at the Oct 2023 FASMEE prescribed burn experiment. Objective #3Status: High level design fornear real time map transmission is complete. Software coding to commence in year two. Objective #4 Status: High level design for Centralized Fire Map Aggregation functionality was performed in year one. Software coding will be accomplished in year two. Objective #5 Status: Map Dissemination high level design is complete. Software coding is in progress. We anticipate demonstrating this functionality during the Oct 2023 FASMEE prescribed burn.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Fall 2022 TFRSAC: TACFI-RS USDA Phase II SBIR: Airborne Wildfire Mapping Utilizing an Array of Thermal Infrared Cameras and Automated Multi-Aperture/Multi-Platform Fire Map Processing
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Spring 2023 TFRSAC: TACFI-RS USDA Phase II SBIR: Airborne Wildfire Mapping Utilizing an Array of Thermal Infrared Cameras and Automated Multi-Aperture/Multi-Platform Fire Map Processing