Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy

This study aims to improve the accuracy of fire source detection, the efficiency of path planning, and the precision of firefighting operations in drone swarms during fire emergencies. It proposes an intelligent firefighting technology for drone swarms based on multi-sensor integrated path planning....

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Main Authors: Bingxin Yu, Shengze Yu, Yuandi Zhao, Jin Wang, Ran Lai, Jisong Lv, Botao Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Drones
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/5/348
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author Bingxin Yu
Shengze Yu
Yuandi Zhao
Jin Wang
Ran Lai
Jisong Lv
Botao Zhou
author_facet Bingxin Yu
Shengze Yu
Yuandi Zhao
Jin Wang
Ran Lai
Jisong Lv
Botao Zhou
author_sort Bingxin Yu
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to improve the accuracy of fire source detection, the efficiency of path planning, and the precision of firefighting operations in drone swarms during fire emergencies. It proposes an intelligent firefighting technology for drone swarms based on multi-sensor integrated path planning. The technology integrates the You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) algorithm and its optimization strategies to enhance real-time fire source detection capabilities. Additionally, this study employs multi-sensor data fusion and swarm cooperative path-planning techniques to optimize the deployment of firefighting materials and flight paths, thereby improving firefighting efficiency and precision. First, a deformable convolution module is introduced into the backbone network of YOLOv8 to enable the detection network to flexibly adjust its receptive field when processing targets, thereby enhancing fire source detection accuracy. Second, an attention mechanism is incorporated into the neck portion of YOLOv8, which focuses on fire source feature regions, significantly reducing interference from background noise and further improving recognition accuracy in complex environments. Finally, a new High Intersection over Union (HIoU) loss function is proposed to address the challenge of computing localization and classification loss for targets. This function dynamically adjusts the weight of various loss components during training, achieving more precise fire source localization and classification. In terms of path planning, this study integrates data from visual sensors, infrared sensors, and LiDAR sensors and adopts the Information Acquisition Optimizer (IAO) and the Catch Fish Optimization Algorithm (CFOA) to plan paths and optimize coordinated flight for drone swarms. By dynamically adjusting path planning and deployment locations, the drone swarm can reach fire sources in the shortest possible time and carry out precise firefighting operations. Experimental results demonstrate that this study significantly improves fire source detection accuracy and firefighting efficiency by optimizing the YOLOv8 algorithm, path-planning algorithms, and cooperative flight strategies. The optimized YOLOv8 achieved a fire source detection accuracy of 94.6% for small fires, with a false detection rate reduced to 5.4%. The wind speed compensation strategy effectively mitigated the impact of wind on the accuracy of material deployment. This study not only enhances the firefighting efficiency of drone swarms but also enables rapid response in complex fire scenarios, offering broad application prospects, particularly for urban firefighting and forest fire disaster rescue.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2504-446X
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Drones
spelling doaj-art-b2473781981a4a9e9a1027f232c791942025-08-20T01:56:16ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2025-05-019534810.3390/drones9050348Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment StrategyBingxin Yu0Shengze Yu1Yuandi Zhao2Jin Wang3Ran Lai4Jisong Lv5Botao Zhou6College of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaOffice of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, ChinaThis study aims to improve the accuracy of fire source detection, the efficiency of path planning, and the precision of firefighting operations in drone swarms during fire emergencies. It proposes an intelligent firefighting technology for drone swarms based on multi-sensor integrated path planning. The technology integrates the You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) algorithm and its optimization strategies to enhance real-time fire source detection capabilities. Additionally, this study employs multi-sensor data fusion and swarm cooperative path-planning techniques to optimize the deployment of firefighting materials and flight paths, thereby improving firefighting efficiency and precision. First, a deformable convolution module is introduced into the backbone network of YOLOv8 to enable the detection network to flexibly adjust its receptive field when processing targets, thereby enhancing fire source detection accuracy. Second, an attention mechanism is incorporated into the neck portion of YOLOv8, which focuses on fire source feature regions, significantly reducing interference from background noise and further improving recognition accuracy in complex environments. Finally, a new High Intersection over Union (HIoU) loss function is proposed to address the challenge of computing localization and classification loss for targets. This function dynamically adjusts the weight of various loss components during training, achieving more precise fire source localization and classification. In terms of path planning, this study integrates data from visual sensors, infrared sensors, and LiDAR sensors and adopts the Information Acquisition Optimizer (IAO) and the Catch Fish Optimization Algorithm (CFOA) to plan paths and optimize coordinated flight for drone swarms. By dynamically adjusting path planning and deployment locations, the drone swarm can reach fire sources in the shortest possible time and carry out precise firefighting operations. Experimental results demonstrate that this study significantly improves fire source detection accuracy and firefighting efficiency by optimizing the YOLOv8 algorithm, path-planning algorithms, and cooperative flight strategies. The optimized YOLOv8 achieved a fire source detection accuracy of 94.6% for small fires, with a false detection rate reduced to 5.4%. The wind speed compensation strategy effectively mitigated the impact of wind on the accuracy of material deployment. This study not only enhances the firefighting efficiency of drone swarms but also enables rapid response in complex fire scenarios, offering broad application prospects, particularly for urban firefighting and forest fire disaster rescue.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/5/348drone swarmmulti-sensor fusionpath planningYOLOv8 algorithminformation acquisition optimizerintelligent firefighting
spellingShingle Bingxin Yu
Shengze Yu
Yuandi Zhao
Jin Wang
Ran Lai
Jisong Lv
Botao Zhou
Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy
Drones
drone swarm
multi-sensor fusion
path planning
YOLOv8 algorithm
information acquisition optimizer
intelligent firefighting
title Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy
title_full Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy
title_fullStr Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy
title_full_unstemmed Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy
title_short Intelligent Firefighting Technology for Drone Swarms with Multi-Sensor Integrated Path Planning: YOLOv8 Algorithm-Driven Fire Source Identification and Precision Deployment Strategy
title_sort intelligent firefighting technology for drone swarms with multi sensor integrated path planning yolov8 algorithm driven fire source identification and precision deployment strategy
topic drone swarm
multi-sensor fusion
path planning
YOLOv8 algorithm
information acquisition optimizer
intelligent firefighting
url https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/5/348
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