An automated long-range fire suppression launcher — built for wildfire defense in terrain where human intervention isn't fast enough.
Design a rugged, weather-resistant launcher capable of deploying fire suppression payloads at long range with precision aiming, autonomous operation, and reliable deployment in extreme conditions.
Full mechanical design of the launcher system, aiming mechanism, payload ejection assembly, and environmental housing. System integration and prototype build management.
Working prototype demonstrated in field conditions. System capable of autonomous aiming and payload delivery at operational range targets.
Wildfire response times are measured in minutes — and in many terrain types, those minutes are unavailable to human crews. FireDome's vision is a network of autonomous suppression units that can react immediately when fire is detected, deploying suppression payloads to intercept the fire front before it grows.
The mechanical challenge was significant: the launcher needed to cover a wide aiming arc in two axes, operate without maintenance in field environments exposed to dust, moisture, and temperature extremes, and deploy payloads with sufficient repeatability to hit targets at range. The ejection mechanism had to be reliable across hundreds of cycles without degradation.
We designed the aiming gimbals with sealed bearings and weatherproof drive trains, optimized the launcher barrel geometry for payload trajectory consistency, and developed a latching mechanism for payload retention that released cleanly under all deployment conditions. The full system was integrated with FireDome's detection and control electronics for field demonstration.