In South San Francisco, a small startup is working on a high-tech approach to wildfire prevention. Anukool Lakhina and Waleed "Lee" Haddad founded BurnBot in 2022 to develop robotics and remote-controlled vehicles that can munch up and burn away invasive plants or other dry vegetation that can fuel fires if left fallow. Like other agricultural and construction equipment, the RX rolls forward on tank-like tracks and wheels, which enable it to maneuver through rough fields. The chambers of the BurnBot RX also trap and torch away the smoke that comes from burning vegetation, so it doesn't pollute the air in surrounding communities. When the torching is done, the RX sprays water repeatedly to extinguish any remaining embers.

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Persons: Lakhina, Waleed, Lee, Haddad, BurnBot, munch Organizations: Ventures Locations: California, South San Francisco, BurnBot