UBC Okanagan (UBCO) is stepping up with some cool tech to keep wildfire crews safer and help sustainable farming.

Think robots, AI, and drones.

Dr. Mohamed Shehata and his team, which includes Dr. John Braun and a group of students, recently received a Husky A300 Starter Kit through the 2024 PartnerBot Grant Program.

鈥淭he Husky A300 allows us to develop and test our navigation algorithms in real conditions,鈥� said Dr. Shehata, a professor of computer science with the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just theoretical anymore鈥攚e can take it into the field, collect real data, and refine how these robots can work in challenging environments.鈥�

One of the team鈥檚 main goals is to make wildfires less dangerous for firefighters. They鈥檙e working on tech that sends AI-powered robots into risky zones to clear fire lines, spray water, or even ignite backfires. These robots can be controlled from a safe distance while drones provide real-time maps and guidance.

鈥淚nstead of putting firefighters at risk, we can use AI-powered navigation and real-time data visualization to guide operations from a safe distance," Dr. Shehata added.

Wildfire researchers and an Alberta company that specializes in high-pressure water systems to see how robots can complement firefighting tools like helicopters are also part of the project.

On the agriculture front, Dr. Shehata鈥檚 team is using AI and drones, working on ways to spot weeds, keep crops healthy, and cut down on chemical herbicides. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e working with the Summerland Research and Development Centre and partners in Germany to develop new ways to use robotics in precision farming,鈥� Dr. Shehata noted. 鈥淯sing AI and sensor-equipped drones, we can map fields and identify exactly where intervention is needed鈥攚hether it鈥檚 watering, fertilizing, or targeted weed removal using lasers instead of herbicides.鈥�

The project is backed by PartnerBot, a program by Clearpath Robotics that鈥檚 been supporting innovative robotics research since 2012.