University of Bradford researchers will pilot an AI-enabled wildfire detection system using robotic dogs and drones in Greece in 2025. Researchers Use AI And Robot Dogs To Detect Wildfires

The trial is part of the EU-funded 6G-VERSUS research project and follows funding awarded earlier this year by the EU’s Horizon Innovation Action programme; the work was showcased in Birmingham during an event on AI solutions for global risks.

The system pairs four-legged robotic platforms with aerial drones and uses AI to analyse sensor data and high-definition video, relaying information over high-bandwidth 6G links to emergency services in near real time, project materials say. This technology reflects a broader trend, as robotic technologies are increasingly utilized for air, water, and soil monitoring, including autonomous ground robots mapping pollutants in real time. Technical overviews of similar setups are available from outlets such as Eco Robots for Environmental Monitoring — Autonomous Air Quality ….

Researchers describe the architecture as a networked sensor ecosystem: ground robots gather local data while drones provide aerial imagery and communications support, with 6G connectivity enabling rapid transmission of alerts and footage. The approach is intended to accelerate detection and give responders a clearer view of developing incidents, a critical need as Europe has faced significant wildfire challenges in recent years. Dr Kamran Mahroof, project lead at the University of Bradford, framed the work in stark terms, saying: “wildfires have become a ‘pressing global challenge’ due to rising frequency and severity.” His role as project lead links the pilot to broader university research into disruptive connectivity and edge computing. As the rate of wildfires rises globally, it’s essential for both community preparedness and innovative technology to play a significant role in mitigating risks. Protecting your home from wildfire risk – Lockton

The pilot in Greece forms one component of the 6G-VERSUS programme, which targets sustainability-focused uses for next-generation networks. Local emergency services have taken note: the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has expressed interest in the project and its potential to improve situational awareness and response times.

Researchers highlighted how combining sensor data collected by four-legged robotic platforms and aerial drones can create a continuous surveillance and communications chain across difficult terrain. Early detection, routed immediately to control centres and responders via high-bandwidth 6G links, is presented as the central operational benefit. Additionally, individuals in local areas can help prepare for and prevent wildfires by creating defensible space around homes and maintaining fire-resistant materials, which complements the technological efforts.

The work draws on prior EU support and follows an announcement of funding earlier this year from the EU’s Horizon Innovation Action programme. Project partners plan the staged pilot in 2025 to test hardware, AI models and network performance together in a real-world environment in Greece.

Additional technical context for autonomous environmental monitoring can be found in broader industry coverage such as the Smprobotics briefing on robotic air-quality systems, which outlines how ground robots and sensors are employed in other environmental applications.

Organisers say the Greek pilot will help assess how collaborative robotics, drones, and advanced connectivity operate as an integrated early-warning system. The trial will focus on interoperability between AI, sensing platforms, and 6G links to determine how alerts and imagery can best support emergency operations.

As the project advances toward deployment in 2025, the University of Bradford and its partners will measure whether rapid transmission of sensor data and video can shorten detection windows and improve the information available to responders on the ground while paving the way for advanced preventative measures.

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