PG&E Participates in First-Ever Autonomous Wildfire Suppression Demonstration in California
PG&E (PCG) participated in California's first autonomous wildfire suppression demonstration, featuring a Black Hawk® helicopter equipped with Lockheed Martin and Rain autonomy systems. The demonstration, held in the Silverwood region, showcased the helicopter's ability to autonomously track fires, collect water, and extinguish ignitions using tablet control.
The company is involved in a research project through the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program, exploring drone-enabled and autonomous wildfire suppression technologies. PG&E is also a Co-Title sponsor of the XPRIZE Wildfire competition, an $11 million initiative spanning four years to develop autonomous fire detection and suppression capabilities. The competition includes two tracks: Autonomous Wildfire Response and Space-Based Wildfire Detection & Intelligence.
PG&E (PCG) ha partecipato alla prima dimostrazione autonoma di soppressione degli incendi boschivi in California, con un elicottero Black Hawk® dotato dei sistemi di autonomia Lockheed Martin e Rain. La dimostrazione, tenutasi nella regione di Silverwood, ha mostrato la capacità dell'elicottero di monitorare autonomamente gli incendi, raccogliere acqua e spegnere le fiamme tramite controllo da tablet.
L'azienda è coinvolta in un progetto di ricerca attraverso il programma Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), che esplora tecnologie di soppressione degli incendi boschivi basate su droni e sistemi autonomi. PG&E è inoltre co-sponsor del XPRIZE Wildfire, una competizione da 11 milioni di dollari della durata di quattro anni per sviluppare capacità autonome di rilevamento e soppressione degli incendi. La competizione comprende due categorie: Risposta Autonoma agli Incendi Boschivi e Rilevamento e Intelligenza sugli Incendi da Spazio.
PG&E (PCG) participó en la primera demostración autónoma de supresión de incendios forestales en California, con un helicóptero Black Hawk® equipado con los sistemas de autonomía de Lockheed Martin y Rain. La demostración, realizada en la región de Silverwood, mostró la capacidad del helicóptero para rastrear incendios de forma autónoma, recoger agua y apagar igniciones mediante control por tablet.
La compañía está involucrada en un proyecto de investigación a través del programa Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), explorando tecnologías de supresión de incendios forestales habilitadas por drones y autónomas. PG&E también es co-patrocinador del XPRIZE Wildfire, una iniciativa de 11 millones de dólares que se extiende por cuatro años para desarrollar capacidades autónomas de detección y supresión de incendios. La competencia incluye dos categorías: Respuesta Autónoma a Incendios Forestales y Detección e Inteligencia de Incendios Basada en el Espacio.
PG&E (PCG)는 록히드 마틴과 레인 자율 시스템이 장착된 블랙호크® 헬리콥터를 활용한 캘리포니아 최초의 자율 산불 진압 시범에 참여했습니다. 실버우드 지역에서 열린 이번 시범에서는 헬리콥터가 태블릿 제어를 통해 산불을 자율적으로 추적하고, 물을 수집하며, 점화를 진압하는 능력을 선보였습니다.
회사는 Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) 프로그램을 통해 드론 기반 및 자율 산불 진압 기술을 연구하는 프로젝트에 참여하고 있습니다. 또한 PG&E는 4년에 걸쳐 1,100만 달러 규모의 자율 화재 탐지 및 진압 기술 개발을 목표로 하는 XPRIZE Wildfire 대회의 공동 타이틀 스폰서이기도 합니다. 이 대회는 자율 산불 대응과 우주 기반 산불 탐지 및 정보 두 가지 트랙으로 구성되어 있습니다.
PG&E (PCG) a participé à la première démonstration autonome de lutte contre les incendies de forêt en Californie, mettant en scène un hélicoptère Black Hawk® équipé des systèmes d'autonomie de Lockheed Martin et Rain. La démonstration, organisée dans la région de Silverwood, a mis en avant la capacité de l'hélicoptère à suivre les incendies de manière autonome, à collecter de l'eau et à éteindre les départs de feu via un contrôle par tablette.
L'entreprise participe à un projet de recherche dans le cadre du programme Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), explorant les technologies de lutte autonome contre les incendies de forêt utilisant des drones. PG&E est également co-sponsor du concours XPRIZE Wildfire, une initiative de 11 millions de dollars sur quatre ans visant à développer des capacités autonomes de détection et de suppression des incendies. Le concours comporte deux volets : Réponse Autonome aux Incendies de Forêt et Détection & Intelligence des Incendies Basées dans l'Espace.
PG&E (PCG) nahm an Kaliforniens erster autonomer Demonstration zur Waldbrandbekämpfung teil, bei der ein Black Hawk®-Hubschrauber mit den Autonomiesystemen von Lockheed Martin und Rain ausgestattet war. Die Demonstration in der Region Silverwood zeigte die Fähigkeit des Hubschraubers, Brände autonom zu verfolgen, Wasser zu sammeln und Entzündungen per Tablet-Steuerung zu löschen.
Das Unternehmen ist an einem Forschungsprojekt im Rahmen des Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC)-Programms beteiligt, das drohnenbasierte und autonome Technologien zur Waldbrandbekämpfung erforscht. PG&E ist zudem Co-Titelsponsor des XPRIZE Wildfire-Wettbewerbs, einer vierjährigen Initiative mit einem Budget von 11 Millionen US-Dollar zur Entwicklung autonomer Branddetektions- und Löschfähigkeiten. Der Wettbewerb umfasst zwei Kategorien: Autonome Waldbrandreaktion und Weltraumgestützte Waldbranddetektion & Intelligenz.
- PG&E is actively investing in innovative wildfire prevention technology
- Partnership with leading technology companies (Lockheed Martin, Rain) demonstrates commitment to modernization
- Company's involvement in $11M XPRIZE Wildfire competition shows dedication to developing cutting-edge solutions
- Current wildfire suppression systems still require development and testing before implementation
- Significant investment in new technology may impact operational costs
Insights
PG&E's participation in autonomous wildfire suppression testing shows forward-thinking risk management without immediate financial impact.
This demonstration of Black Hawk® helicopters equipped with autonomous firefighting systems represents an innovative approach to PG&E's existential wildfire risk challenge. The technology—which pulls water and extinguishes fires via tablet control—could potentially reduce critical response times to wildfire ignitions, addressing one of the utility's most significant business vulnerabilities.
While the press release positions PG&E at the forefront of wildfire technology innovation, this remains firmly in the demonstration and R&D phase. PG&E's dual involvement through their Electric Program Investment Charge program and as co-sponsor of the
The most concrete pathway to implementation comes from SVP Mark Quinlan's statement about eventually equipping PG&E's existing helicopter fleet (currently loaned to CAL FIRE) with this autonomous capability. However, no timeline, cost projections, or regulatory approval status is mentioned.
This initiative fits logically within PG&E's multi-layered approach to wildfire risk mitigation, potentially complementing their undergrounding efforts, enhanced vegetation management, and monitoring systems. For a utility that declared bankruptcy in 2019 largely due to wildfire liabilities, every additional layer of protection carries strategic significance.
The multi-stakeholder nature of the demonstration—involving fire professionals, government officials, philanthropy, and insurance providers—suggests this represents a collaborative industry exploration rather than a PG&E-exclusive capability or immediate competitive advantage.
Organized by Rain and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, the demonstration took place in in the Silverwood region of the Mojave River Valley nestled next to the San Bernardino National Forest. The demo featured a Black Hawk® helicopter equipped with autonomy systems from Lockheed Martin and Rain tracking and engaging multiple fires across the site, pulling water from dip tanks and extinguishing ignitions – all controlled via tablet.
PG&E leaders and a PG&E safety infrastructure protection team (SIPT) attended the demonstration.
"At PG&E, we are committed to ending catastrophic wildfires, and we have implemented several layers of protection and mitigation initiatives that have significantly reduced ignitions, but we know there's more to do and we recognize the need to develop the technology of tomorrow that will help keep
Rain is also a participant in the XPRIZE Wildfire competition, of which PG&E is the Co-Title sponsor alongside the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Presenting Sponsor Minderoo Foundation, Bonus Prize Sponsor Lockheed Martin and Supporting Sponsors Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and benefactors Nichola Eliovits and Michael Antonov.
XPRIZE Wildfire is a four-year,
- In the Autonomous Wildfire Response track, teams will need to monitor at least 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) and autonomously suppress a wildfire within 10 minutes of detection.
- In the Space-Based Wildfire Detection & Intelligence track, teams will have one minute to accurately detect all fires across a landscape larger than entire states or countries, and 10 minutes to precisely characterize and report data with the least false positives to two ground stations.
In addition to Rain, through the EPIC project, on separate occasions PG&E will demonstrate and evaluate the viability of other autonomous wildfire suppression technologies in various operating environments.
For more information about PG&E's R&D efforts visit www.pge.com/innovation.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
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