As unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, become more capable and ubiquitous on wildfires the infrastructure supporting the flight crews will undoubtably become more sophisticated. Typically they work out of a cargo trailer or pickup truck and may have a generator to recharge the batteries on the controllers and aircraft. But it does not always have to be done that way.

Two companies, Volta Power Systems and Draxxon have partnered to develop the first fully electric battery-powered towable Command Center designed for UAS. The DX-816 center allows organizations to integrate UAS into other command and control systems. The automotive-grade Volta system allows the entire mobile center to run up to 24 hours on a single system charge without the use of a generator or idling the towing vehicle.

The customizable setup offers both interior and exterior monitoring, as well as a fold-down rooftop UAS flight station. The whole unit is equipped with climate control and LED lighting for reliable visibility, day or night.

The trailer’s 24,000 Wh Volta system recharges via a shore power connection, but unlike many technologies, it doesn’t require special charging infrastructure. The power pack can charge safely from a standard electrical wall outlet. Distributed through a 5,000W AC inverter, the system eliminates the need for a generator on-site, with enough stored energy to power the trailer without noise or emissions.