Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone
The Poseidon Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone is an unmanned firefighting drone designed for point-targeted fire suppression in confined and hazardous environments where vertical-drop UAVs or manual access are ineffective. Using a directional horizontal launch mechanism, the Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone delivers fire extinguishing devices up to 20 m (65.6 ft) into enclosed rooms, machinery bays, corridors, tanks, and glass-sealed compartments.
Under defined operating conditions, the horizontal drone is capable of penetrating up to 12 mm (0.47 in) tempered glass, allowing fire extinguishing agents carried by the fire suppression devices to reach ignition points inside sealed structures. Integrated EO/IR thermal imaging cameras support real time hotspot identification and enhanced situational awareness.
Each fire suppression device can be equipped with advanced human-presence sensing modules, providing life-detection cues. This capability assists operators in avoiding engagement toward areas with detected human presence, reducing the risk of secondary injury during emergency response operations. Final deployment decisions remain operator-controlled, in accordance with procedures established by incident commanders.
Designed for industrial facilities, urban structures, and special-risk fire scenarios—including high rise buildings and high rise fire conditions—the system emphasizes controlled engagement, operator decision authority, and stand-off operation. It is supported by configurable system design, mission-specific solutions, and OEM integration services to meet diverse operational requirements without exposing fire department or ground team personnel to additional hazards.
The Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone is optimized for fire suppression missions where direct line-of-sight penetration is required and vertical payload release cannot achieve reliable fire extinguishing agent delivery. Built around a 100 kg (220 lb) payload-class airframe, the platform is designed to carry four fire suppression devices, each with a nominal mass of 25 kg (55 lb), enabling compartment-scale or sequential suppression tasks within a single sortie.
Unlike overhead drop UAVs that operate above the flame front, this firefighting drone deploys fire suppression devices horizontally from a stand-off position, enabling controlled access into enclosed or obstructed fire zones while maintaining separation between the aircraft and the thermal core of the fire.
Directional Suppression, Thermal Effects, and Engagement Envelope
Vertical-drop fire suppression UAVs typically operate above active flames, where strong upward thermal convection and plume turbulence can disrupt payload trajectory and dispersion, reducing overall fire extinguishing effectiveness. In practice, such systems require minimum release heights above the flame column to achieve predictable coverage, and their performance may degrade significantly in confined spaces, high rise buildings, or structurally complex hazardous environments.
By contrast, the Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone engages the fire from the side, avoiding direct exposure to vertical thermal updrafts. This lateral deployment method provides more predictable fire suppression delivery conditions and allows suppression actions to be executed at defined stand-off distances, without reliance on overhead clearance or plume stability.
Under defined operating and test conditions, the horizontal launch system is capable of delivering fire suppression devices at a typical engagement distance of up to 20 m (65.6 ft). At this distance, and with appropriate configuration and impact angle, the system can penetrate up to 12 mm (0.47 in) tempered glass, allowing fire extinguishing agents to reach ignition points inside sealed or poorly ventilated compartments. Penetration performance is influenced by glass type (tempered versus laminated), angle of incidence, and residual velocity at impact, and is evaluated during mission planning.
Suppression Agents, Sensors, and Operational Awareness
Fire suppression devices may be configured with dry chemical or liquid fire extinguishing agents suitable for Class A or Class B fire hazards, selected based on site-specific fuel characteristics, ventilation conditions, and post-suppression requirements. Agent selection is determined through risk assessment and local SOPs, and the platform does not prescribe a universal agent solution across all environments.
For targeting and situational awareness, the drone integrates thermal imaging cameras for hotspot identification and fire boundary assessment, supported—where configured—by near-infrared human-presence cueing. These cues support incident commanders and operators in establishing exclusion zones and planning engagements; final deployment decisions remain under operator or incident commander control. A stabilized EO/IR gimbal delivers real time optical and thermal imagery through smoke, partial obstructions, and low-visibility conditions.
Operational Performance and Engagement Control
Flight time is configuration- and payload-dependent, with durations of up to 30 minutes, providing sufficient on-station time for approach, assessment, fire suppression, and post-engagement observation during emergency response operations. The airframe maintains operational stability in wind conditions of up to 17 m/s (≈61 km/h, 38 mph), supporting deployment in urban and industrial environments where airflow variability and thermal effects are common.
The system is designed for rapid response, with a time to first launch of less than 5 seconds after arming confirmation, minimizing delay between arrival on scene and suppression action when supporting fire department or ground team operations.
Safety Interlocks and Engagement Control Logic
The fire suppression system incorporates mechanical and software-based safety interlocks, including arming confirmation and controlled launch authorization, to reduce the risk of inadvertent discharge. Launch actions are permitted only after defined system-ready and operator-confirmation states are satisfied. Mission abort and return-to-safe-state functions are available in the event of operator command or communication loss, supporting coordinated response with a remote command center when required.
Active fire suppression through horizontal directional deployment for confined and enclosed fire zones
Precision fire extinguishing delivery enabled by thermal imaging, EO/IR sensing, and GPS-supported navigation
Horizontal deployment capability allowing fire suppression devices to penetrate windows and access internal fire compartments
Up to four 25 kg (55 lb) fire suppression devices in a 100 kg (220 lb) payload-class configuration for flexible mission planning
Configurable fire extinguishing agents suitable for Class A and Class B hazards based on site-specific requirements
Enhanced situational awareness with thermal imaging and optical sensing for smoke-obscured and low-visibility environments
Human-presence cueing to support safer engagement planning and exclusion-zone establishment
Encrypted dual-band telemetry for command, control, and real-time video feedback
Multiple control modes, including manual piloting, waypoint navigation, and semi-automatic operation
Modular airframe and OEM-ready architecture supporting customization and mission-specific integration
Industrial plants: directs suppressant into enclosed machinery bays, cable corridors, and fuel-handling areas without personnel exposure.
Urban high-rise: penetrates tempered glass to deliver extinguishing agents into sealed office or apartment fire rooms.
Remote zones: supports perimeter suppression and hotspot cooling in brush, wildland, or rural fire lines.
Hazard materials sites: deploys agent without placing responders near volatile Class B fuel or chemical sources.
| Parameter | Specification |
| Product Name | Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone |
| Launch Mechanism | Servo-guided horizontal launcher |
| Payload Capacity | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Projectile Capacity | 4 × 25 kg (55 lb) |
| Glass Penetration Capability | Up to 12 mm (0.47 in) tempered glass (configuration- and condition-dependent) |
| Maximum Altitude | 3,000 m (9,842 ft) service ceiling |
| Endurance | Up to 30 minutes (configuration- and payload-dependent) |
| Wind Resistance | Up to 17 m/s (≈61 km/h, 38 mph) |
| Time to First Launch | < 5 s after arming confirmation (system-ready state) |
| Sensors | Thermal IR, EO/IR gimbal, optional human-presence cueing |
| Communication | Encrypted 2.4 GHz / 5.8 GHz telemetry and video |
| Control Modes | Manual, semi-autonomous, GPS waypoint navigation |
| Frame Material | Aviation-grade aluminum alloy with composite shell |
| Operating Temperature | −10°C to +50°C (14°F to 122°F) |
| Optional Modules | AI-assisted targeting, extended-range radios, agent variants, additional environmental sensors |
The Horizontal Fire Suppression Drone incorporates avionics and electrical components sourced from UL-recognized component families, supporting reliability and quality consistency at the subsystem level. The aircraft itself is not UL listed as a fire suppression apparatus.
The platform is designed to support unmanned aircraft operations typically conducted under FAA Part 107 in the United States; regulatory compliance, airspace authorization, and operational approval remain the responsibility of the operator and mission owner.
Fire-response concepts and deployment workflows are intended to integrate with agency- or site-defined emergency response procedures. The system is not classified as a certified fire apparatus, and its deployment is governed by project-specific risk assessments, SOPs, and authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements.
OEM and integrator programs are supported, including customized suppression agents, communication systems, targeting sensors, corrosion protection, and mission-specific payload adaptations.
