In a time when climate change is increasing the risk of widespread forest fires, new innovative solutions are needed. This is the very challenge that an international student team from Linköping University and Stanford University took on – and the result was FireFly, a drone system designed to give firefighters a better overview of fires in difficult terrain.
A global problem that requires innovative thinking
"This allows operations to be planned more effectively and reduces risks both for firefighters and for the environment," says Jonas Rohdin, one of the LiU students who participated in the project and now works as the head of the Geodata Unit in Linköping Municipality.
The project was carried out in collaboration with Saab, who were the industrial partner and provided expert support and valuable feedback during the development.
Interdisciplinary and international collaboration
The project team consisted of seven people: three students from Stanford and four from LiU, with the Swedish students coming from the master’s programmes in Strategic Management in International Organizations (SMIO) and Aeronautical Engineering.
The collaboration took place within a course where students from various subjects and countries work together to solve real-world societal problems. The course is based on a practical and creative approach, focusing on the users' needs and developing ideas in a group.
"The collaboration between LiU and Stanford exceeded expectations. There is so much to learn from people from different parts of the world. You gain a broader perspective on problems and solutions, which is incredibly valuable both professionally and personally," says Martin Vikblad, one of the LiU students who participated in the project. Today, he works as a consultant for Saab Aeronautics, where he works on testing and verification for Gripen.
“Tough, but incredibly educational”
Working in an international team placed high demands – especially considering time differences and remote work. Jonas Rohdin describes it as both challenging and developing:
"In an environment where many are world-class, a competitive atmosphere can arise. It was tough but also incredibly educational. I grew both as an engineer and as a person, learning how to handle different types of people and situations."
"The project gave me insight into how important it is to frame and delimit a problem properly. It has helped me a lot in my career, where I now work as a hull designer and constructor at Saab."
Chipo Ziyambe, who is now a PhD student in industrial marketing, describes how the project strengthened her personally:
"It was a challenge because the project was more technical at the beginning. I had to find my role and realised that my contribution to defining the problem area was important. The experience strengthened my confidence and taught me to find my voice in an international team."
International attention
The FireFly project attracted a lot of attention when it was presented at Stanford University during their 100-year anniversary of the School of Engineering. The project was featured by Reuters, which led to the news spreading internationally.
The project is now in the patenting process, funded by Stanford. The patent is not for the drone technology or sensors themselves, as these already exist. Instead, the patent applies to the process itself and how the technology is used in a new way to support firefighters in the field. It is the combination of existing components and how they are integrated into a specific working method that is unique.
"It feels fantastic that something we created as students can actually help protect forests and maybe even save lives," says Chipo Ziyambe. "Additionally, the project has given me a unique story that often leads to exciting conversations and new connections."
See the feature about the project on Reuters.
