New wildfire-detection sensor acts as ‘electronic nose’

Wildfires are becoming increasingly intense and common worldwide as the impacts of rising global temperatures are more keenly felt, with nations seeing increased risk to crops, land and homes.

Early detection and warning systems are crucial to preventing these disasters, though existing devices typically use satellite or camera imaging for visual smoke detection, a technique that doesn’t always catch the danger in time. This is where fire-detection startup Dryad comes in.

The company has developed a solar-powered sensor with a built-in gas detector that acts as an “electronic nose,” identifying gasses such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide that indicate a fire in its early stages.

Dryad partnered with Semtech and Swarm to use satellite and 4G networks to alert users to a fire threat before it becomes a blaze. The alert can be sent to local forest rangers, fire brigades or other emergency services, transmitting the exact coordinates of the sensor’s location so emergency personnel can get to the exact location.

The device’s built-in AI sensors detect abnormal gas patterns in the air and can distinguish between different “smells” of fire, allowing it to identify real fires and false alarms. Depending on sensor placement, its devices can detect a fire within 30 to 60 minutes.

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