LSU Electrical, Computer Engineering Professor Designs Intelligent Drone for Rescue Operations
September 18, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – The National Fire Protection Association estimates that one home fire-related death occurs in the U.S. every three hours and 14 minutes, and one home fire-related injury occurs every 53 minutes. These are numbers LSU Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Xiangyu Meng hopes to change for the better through his design of an intelligent drone that will use thermal technology during rescue operations, particularly for firefighters.
“The emergence of drones has found various significant applications in industries, including aiding emergency responders to locate victims in rescue operations,” Meng said. “However, these responders face challenges when it comes to detecting victims in obscured areas due to smoke or dust. Victims may be unable to provide visual cues but can only shout for help.”
Recent advancements in deep learning—a subset of machine learning that involves training artificial neural networks to learn and make intelligent decisions from data—have shown significant ability in predicting and decision making in various domains, such as disaster management. Meng also integrates online gas sensing for hydrogen fluoride and carbon monoxide that can leak from lithium-powered vehicles and create unseen danger.
Meng’s project, sponsored by NASA, began with data collection—thermal images of humans, animals, audio data, and more. His team then trained a deep-learning model using state-of-the-art algorithms. Next came drone development and system integration. Lastly, testing and evaluation were done in which Meng conducted experiments using simulated emergency response scenarios before collaborating with the Baton Rouge Fire Department for actual testing. After this was done, the research team fine-tuned the design based on the results and performance metrics.
“The project has the potential for success because it addresses a specific challenge in emergency response by employing advanced machine learning that has proven to be efficient,” Meng said. “The impact of this project is mainly in saving lives and expanding the knowledge of machine-learning applications in the aviation industry.”
Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram (@lsuengineering).
###
Contact: Libby Haydel
Communications Manager
225-578-4840
ehaydel1@lsu.edu
Latest College of Engineering News
- Meet the LSU Cybersecurity Student Whose Work CISA Calls “Staggering”Last week, LSU cybersecurity graduate student George Buras from Baton Rouge received a shoutout from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, for the “Staggering!” impact his work, and the work of other interns, is having on the nation. Here, Buras explains what he’s working on, and why.
- LSU BAE Professor, Team Work to Create Eyedrop for Retinoblastoma TreatmentBATON ROUGE, LA - Retinoblastoma is a rare, malignant tumor in the retina that mostly affects children under the age of 5 and can lead to blindness or even death if not treated. Since many patients are unable to access current treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, LSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Qi Cai and a team of LSU researchers are creating an eyedrop gel that will be more accessible to retinoblastoma patients, thanks to a $75,000 Provost Award grant.
- LSU Civil, Environmental Engineering Professor Assesses Impact of Sulphur Mines Salt Dome Cavern Collapse on Well WaterNovember 18, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - The Gulf Coast is home to more than 500 salt domes, and at least 200 of those are located in Louisiana. While salt domes and their caverns can be beneficial, such as being used to hold petroleum reserves, they can also be a possible hazard should the caverns collapse. The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR) currently has its eye on two caverns in Sulphur, La., and have awarded a $156,602 grant to LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Frank Tsai to assess the impact a collapse would have on well water in the area.
- LSU, PNNL Research Team Study Microplastics in the AtmosphereNovember 14, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - Microplastics are sub-millimeter-sized plastic fragments, similar to or smaller than the thickness of a human hair, that present a relatively new and increasingly prevalent type of environmental pollutant. In fact, they have been widely detected in the air we breathe and at altitudes where clouds form.
- LSU Engineering, Chance Maritime Collaborate on Uncrewed Underwater ResearchNovember 13, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - In an old quarry near Lafayette, La., an uncrewed boat is dropping a remote-controlled robot down to the bottom of a lakebed before retrieving it and returning to shore. If a passerby stumbled upon this scene, he or she might think it was something out of a spy movie. Instead, it's a cutting-edge project that shows how advanced robotic systems can help monitor and protect marine environments, as well as inspect and maintain offshore infrastructure.
- LSU Computer Science Senior Conquers School, Raising Four KidsBATON ROUGE, LA - Though Baton Rouge native Malana Fuentes grew up with the cards stacked against her, she has come out on the other side, hoping to inspire younger generations, including her own kids, that they can do it all if they want it badly enough.