Disaster Autonomous Aerial Response Technology

Stottler Henke proposes advancing Disaster Autonomous Aerial Response Technology (DAART) into Phase II, building on a strong Phase I. DAART enables autonomous UAV operations for wildfire monitoring and disaster response, generating real-time fire progression maps while identifying critical zones with rapid changes or hazards. By combining precision mapping with real-time analysis, DAART enhances situational awareness and accelerates response strategies. The system integrates with emergency management networks, providing intelligence to responders. DAART serves as a unifying framework capable of coordinating disparate platforms into an effective response team. DAART integrates with heterogeneous UAV fleets without hardware modifications. Using multi-modal sensor fusion and deep learning, DAART processes visual, thermal, LiDAR, and radiometric sensor data for fire-front mapping, hazard localization, wind field estimation, and vegetation analysis. Onboard computing minimizes latency, ensuring timely decisions. Optimized bandwidth transmits only high-value data. A decentralized swarm coordination system allows UAVs to autonomously prioritize tasks, reconfigure coverage, and share data, enhancing resilience and adaptability. Designed for reliability, DAART remains effective in harsh conditions, including dense smoke, high winds, and degraded communication. DAART’s development pipeline integrates high-fidelity Unreal Engine 5 simulations with an in-house low-fidelity simulator for rapid prototyping and deployment. NASA SBIR Phase II funding will refine DAART’s algorithms, deployment, and scalability, targeting wildfire response, emergency management, and multi-agency coordination.

DAART's integrated capabilities make it an ideal candidate for advancing NASA's emergency response and autonomous systems initiatives. The system's core innovations in swarm autonomy, fire-front mapping, and predictive modeling directly align with NASA's Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project's mission to modernize wildfire operations. By integrating DAART, NASA would enhance its situational awareness through advanced sensor fusion, strengthen airspace deconfliction via proven swarm coordination algorithms, and optimize UAS-human collaboration through intelligent data prioritization. DAART's effectiveness in challenging environments - including dense smoke, high winds, and degraded communications - makes it particularly valuable for mapping and managing wildfires in complex terrain with limited infrastructure. The system's decentralized architecture ensures reliable operation while minimizing bandwidth requirements, critical for remote operations. Beyond wildfires, DAART's capabilities naturally extend to NASA's broader disaster response portfolio. The platform's multi-modal sensor fusion, autonomous task prioritization, and dynamic reconfiguration capabilities are directly applicable to hurricane tracking, flood mapping, and post-earthquake damage assessment. DAART's robust operator interfaces and decentralized decision-making frameworks make it adaptable to various emergency scenarios. Furthermore, DAART's development advances NASA's strategic objectives in autonomous systems research. The platform's innovations in sensor fusion, resilient operations, and swarm coordination provide a foundation for future collaborative missions involving autonomous vehicles in extreme environments. DAART is strategically positioned to serve diverse stakeholders in wildfire management and disaster response. For firefighting agencies like CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service, DAART offers immediate value through its autonomous swarm capabilities for fire mapping, resource allocation, and enhanced situational awareness. Local fire districts and municipal departments can particularly benefit from DAART's cost-effective approach to aerial monitoring and its ability to operate effectively in urban-wildland interface zones. The system's compatibility with heterogeneous UAV fleets ensures seamless integration with existing assets while adding advanced capabilities for decentralized decision-making and fire-front monitoring. In the commercial sector, DAART addresses critical needs across multiple industries. Utility companies can leverage the system for wildfire prevention and infrastructure inspection, particularly in fire-prone areas. Mining and oil companies operating in remote regions can benefit from DAART's autonomous monitoring and emergency response capabilities. Insurance companies can utilize the system for more efficient and accurate wildfire damage assessment. SwissDrones, specializing in long-endurance UAVs, has committed to serving as a transition partner for DAART. They plan to integrate and flight test the technology on their SDO 50 platform during Phase II, targeting real-world adoption by 2026. This partnership demonstrates DAART's commercial viability and pathway to market adoption. DAART's capabilities also present opportunities in the defense sector, particularly for search-and-rescue operations and disaster relief missions where UAVs must operate collaboratively in communication-constrained conditions.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.