Precision aerial firefighting
Wildfires cost the United States more than $390 billion each year, with risk factors expected to increase by up to 30 percent by 2030.

Developers aim to show lawmakers how autonomous aircraft can prevent fires from spreading and continue firefighting efforts after dark and in challenging, smoky conditions where crewed aircraft cannot operate.

Using a tablet, visitors controlled the Black Hawk aircraft to take off, search for and locate the fire, and then drop water from a Bambi bucket suspended 60 feet below the plane during the 30-minute flight demonstration.