As deadly temperatures of around 1000 degrees Celsius can prevail in a burning building, it is important to avoid any unnecessary risk. Flying robots could support such operations. Researchers at Empa and Imperial College London are currently developing a heat-resistant drone that can provide initial data from the source of danger.
The extreme heat generated by a fire is too great for conventional drones. Close to the fire, the frame melts and the electronics give up. The motors, batteries, sensors and electronics must therefore be protected. Empa researchers have succeeded in synthesizing an insulating material that can withstand high temperatures. The scientists were inspired by nature, more precisely by penguins, arctic foxes and spittlebugs, which live at extreme temperatures. The result was an aerogel, an ultra-light material consisting almost entirely of air-filled pores surrounded by a layer of polymer substance. In this case, the material researchers chose an aerogel based on a polyimide plastic.
The glass fiber-reinforced aerogel encloses the heart of the drone, protecting the power supply and electronics from heat (Image: Empa)
Polyimide aerogels are also being researched by NASA, for example for the insulation of spacesuits. The drone is currently equipped with a thermal imaging camera. The aircraft has passed the acid test with flying colors, albeit in a clean gas flame. It will soon be sent into a smoky oil flame to test its suitability for practical use. At the same time, the cold resistance of the insulation is also being tested for use on glaciers or in the polar regions.
