Firefighting in large buildings, long tunnels, or vast forests poses significant challenges for emergency responders. The FireDrone, unveiled at INTERSCHUTZ 2026 in Hanover, is designed to quickly provide an overview of the situation: As the first heat-resistant drone, it flies into high-risk environments and delivers real-time situational information. “Today, firefighters must enter burning buildings themselves to locate hazardous materials or missing persons.

With the FireDrone, we can for the first time send a drone into hazardous areas to do exactly that—and thus significantly minimize the risk during firefighting operations,” says Fabian Wiesemüller, an Empa researcher and co-founder of the startup FireDrone AG. The flying robot was developed at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in Zurich and is now being further developed by the aforementioned Empa spin-off as well as the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). In the future, it is intended to help firefighters make quick and informed decisions.

Use by Fire Departments and Industry

Toxic smoke, collapsing structures, and exploding materials endanger firefighters. Smoke and hazardous substances are responsible for more than two-thirds of fatalities during firefighting operations, and over one-third of all operations involve hazardous materials. The FireDrone is therefore designed to be deployed in situations with limited visibility or thick smoke. Its strength lies primarily in operations within large and complex structures such as industrial halls, parking garages, or tunnels. Searching these areas is particularly time-consuming and dangerous. “A drone that can fly through such areas quickly and safely offers clear added value,” says David Häusermann, an Empa researcher and co-founder of the startup.

Also suitable for industrial inspections

In addition to firefighting operations, the drone is also suitable for industrial inspections. Many facilities with furnaces, refineries, or chemical processes can only be safely inspected after long cooling-down periods. These downtimes often last several days, incur high costs, and result in energy losses. In the future, the FireDrone could, for example, inspect cement or steel plants as well as waste-to-energy facilities while they are in operation—anywhere where high temperatures make it difficult for humans and conventional drones to operate.

Advances in Insulation

Conventional drones reach their limit at around 40 degrees Celsius: the frame warps, and the electronics fail. The FireDrone, on the other hand, flies at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. It is protected by a patented insulation made of ultra-light aerogel. This consists almost entirely of air-filled pores enclosed in a heat-resistant plastic.

Compared to earlier versions, the insulation system has since been fundamentally simplified. Instead of a complex, glass-fiber-reinforced composite structure made of polyimide and silica, a pure polyimide aerogel is now used. “We can cast the aerogel into three-dimensional shapes and tailor it to fit the drone,” says Häusermann. Bulky individual components for the shell are now a thing of the past: the new material encases the sensitive components in a single piece.

At the same time, Empa researchers led by Shanyu Zhao further improved the high-temperature-resistant polyimide aerogel. For a long time, such materials were considered difficult to produce. Years of research into the chemical composition—from the selection of raw materials to polymerization and solvent processes—led to a new material combination that combines high heat resistance with mechanical flexibility. In addition, the FireDrone features an internal temperature management system that continuously cools and monitors the electronics.

Live thermal images from inside buildings

Equipped with an infrared camera, the FireDrone transmits high-resolution thermal images in real time to the remote control screen. This allows multiple responders to simultaneously locate fire sources or missing persons from a safe distance. “Today, often only the first firefighters inside the building can see what the situation looks like inside.

With the drone, the incident commander, for example, can get their own overview even before people enter the building,” explains Häusermann. Optionally, the drone can be equipped with additional cameras or sensors, for example to measure outside temperatures or detect gases produced during fires.

Rugged pilot assistance and localization systems

Another key advantage is that the FireDrone can also fly indoors. Since it cannot rely on satellite navigation in these environments, it has been specifically optimized for use in buildings, tunnels, or covered industrial facilities. “In many of our operational scenarios, GPS is not available. That’s why we’re developing pilot assistance and localization systems that function reliably even without a satellite signal,” says Wiesemüller.

Mobile docking and maintenance station in the planning stages

The spin-off has already tested the FireDrone several times at the training grounds of the Andelfingen Training Center and at the Holcim cement plant in Siggenthal. “Tests are crucial for making the transition from the lab to real-world applications. In the future, pilots with minimal training should be able to safely deploy these drones in extreme situations,” said Häusermann. In the long term, the FireDrone is to be supplemented with a mobile docking and maintenance station that can be integrated into fire trucks or modern fire protection systems.

Exhibition Topic Fire Fighting Purchase Ticket