3D Fire Detection Sensing for Occlusion-Prone Facility Spaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire detection systems in large and complex facilities face challenges in accurately detecting fires due to occlusions caused by objects, especially when there is low contrast between smoke and the background, leading to incomplete sensing and potential undetected fire events.
Innovation Solution
A multi-dimensional sensing system combining 3D range sensing, thermography, and object detection, utilizing LiDAR, thermography, and video cameras, with time-gated video sensors and pulsed illuminators, to create a virtual voxel structure for comprehensive fire detection, reducing occlusions by coordinating data from multiple sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional smoke detectors are used in large facilities, then fire detection is enabled, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to occlusions and poor smoke plume contrast against backgrounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D smoke detection to 3D volumetric detection using LiDAR technology. The LiDAR sensor emits laser pulses and measures the time of flight to detect smoke particles in three-dimensional space, enabling detection regardless of background contrast and overcoming occlusion issues by sensing smoke density distributions throughout the monitored volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces LiDAR technology as an intermediary sensing mechanism between the fire event and the detection system. The LiDAR sensor acts as a mediator that converts invisible smoke particles into detectable light scattering signals, enabling precise measurement of smoke concentration and location without being affected by visual background contrast limitations of traditional detectors.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are combined to overcome occlusions, then detection coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensing functions into a unified LiDAR-based system that simultaneously performs 3D mapping, smoke detection, and thermal event detection. The LiDAR sensor serves multiple purposes: creating voxel representations of the environment, detecting smoke particle distributions, and identifying thermal anomalies, thereby improving detection coverage without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges 3D range sensing, thermography, and time-gated video sensing into a single integrated sensing system. By combining these sensing modalities and fusing their data at the voxel level, the system achieves comprehensive fire event detection while managing complexity through unified data processing and a centralized control panel that coordinates all sensing operations.
3Loss of time
If 3D voxel mapping is implemented to improve situational awareness, then response time is reduced, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary 3D mapping of the facility environment using LiDAR to create a baseline voxel representation before fire detection begins. This pre-established spatial framework enables rapid comparison with real-time sensor data during fire events, allowing the system to quickly identify anomalies and reduce response time without processing raw sensor data from scratch during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms complex multi-sensor data into a simplified 3D voxel representation that compactly encodes spatial, thermal, and smoke concentration information. This dimensional transformation consolidates large volumes of raw sensor data into manageable voxel grids, reducing data processing requirements while maintaining comprehensive situational awareness for rapid fire response.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances fire detection accuracy by providing rich situational awareness data, enabling rapid response to threats, minimizing loss of life and asset damage through improved smoke and fire detection, even in obstructed areas.
Implementation Method 1
LiDAR (light detection and ranging technology)
Implementation Method 2
3D range sensing using LiDAR
Implementation Method 3
thermography
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices of providing a sensing system for fire event detection in a space within a facility are described herein. One method, includes activating a physical sensor of a physical alarm system detector device to monitor a space of a facility for a fire event to occur, defining a virtual voxel structure mapped in at least three dimensions to a virtual monitored space created to represent the space of the facility being monitored, and locating a virtual object within the virtual voxel structure by mapping a virtual object location based on sensing a location of a physical object with the physical sensor within the space.