Texas has allocated $59.8M to retrofit Blackhawk helicopters with

The future is now! That's right, Texas has recently announced that the state legislature will be setting aside nearly $60 million for pilotless helicopters fighting wildfires in the panhandle and beyond.

The Future of Wildfire Prevention in Texas

According to a recent release from Texas A&M, $59.8 million has been appropriated from the Texas Legislature to develop AI-powered helicopters, specifically Blackhawks, to combat wildfires.

Wildfires devastate Texas each and every year. The impact on citizens' lives, safety, and property is seemingly incalculable when these deadly natural disasters roll through.

Because of this, certain entities across the state have stepped up to offer assistance in stopping wildfires from causing any more unnecessary damage. One such group is Texas A&M University System's George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC).

How AI is Used in Wildfire Prevention

The entire process can be attributed to a secret ingredient: ALIAS. This stands for Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System. This is just a fancy term for autonomous aircrafts that do not require humans on board to operate.

U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Director Stephen Winchell voiced his excitement in collaborating with Texas A&M:

The solutions achieved through collaboration with the Bush Combat Development Complex support both economic and national security while demonstrating complex fully autonomous capabilities in challenging real-world conditions.

The $60M will be put towards acquiring a total of four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to be fitted with ALIAS facilities and tools. These aircrafts will then be put to the test as they embark on pilotless missions to fight wildfires across the state.

The goal is to remove the threat of humans entering high-risk environments, similar to how bomb-diffusing robots operate.

You can see the full detailed story from the Texas A&M System website here.

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Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford