Responder Safety Beacon Heading Detection in Smoke-Filled Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
First responders in hazardous environments, such as smoke-filled buildings, face challenges in locating and reaching fellow responders in distress due to reduced visibility and noise, leading to increased time and risk exposure.
Innovation Solution
A safety device equipped with a thermal imager, directional antennae, and processors that receive and analyze RF signal parameters to determine alignment and heading towards a device in a transmit state, allowing for accurate location identification and communication of a responder's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If first responders rely on voice communication and manual navigation in hazardous environments, then they can maintain simple equipment and operational procedures, but their ability to locate distressed responders is significantly reduced due to smoke, noise, and poor visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (thermal imaging, RF signal detection, inertial measurement) into a single integrated safety device. The thermal imager detects thermal radiation from distressed responders, directional antennae capture RF signals from emergency beacons, and IMU sensors track device orientation and movement. This multi-sensor fusion approach achieves precise location detection in hazardous environments while consolidating functionality into one device rather than requiring multiple separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it detects thermal radiation patterns to locate distressed responders, receives and processes RF emergency beacon signals, tracks device heading and position through inertial measurement, and provides directional guidance to other responders. This multi-functional integration resolves the contradiction by delivering comprehensive location detection capabilities without requiring multiple specialized devices, thereby managing overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If first responders enter hazardous environments without advanced location tracking technology, then equipment remains simple and easy to operate, but the time required to locate and reach distressed responders increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device continuously monitors and processes location data from multiple sources (thermal imaging, RF signals, IMU sensors) before distress occurs. When a responder activates an emergency beacon, the system already has pre-processed thermal maps, RF signal baselines, and positional data ready for immediate analysis. This preliminary processing enables rapid identification and navigation to distressed responders, dramatically improving location speed without requiring complex real-time computations during the emergency response itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual navigation methods (voice communication, physical movement, visual search) with automated sensing and processing systems. Thermal imagers detect thermal radiation patterns automatically, directional antennae track RF signal sources electronically, and processors calculate optimal navigation paths algorithmically. This substitution of mechanical and human-operated systems with automated electronic and optical systems resolves the contradiction by achieving high productivity in location speed while the automated processing manages the complexity burden.
3Loss of information
If first responders use omnidirectional communication in hazardous environments, then signal coverage is improved, but the ability to determine precise directional alignment and heading to distressed responders is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication and sensing functions into directional and omnidirectional components. Directional antennae are used specifically for receiving emergency beacon signals and determining precise bearing to distressed responders, while omnidirectional antennae provide comprehensive signal coverage for general communication. This functional segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning directional detection to specialized directional elements and general reception to omnidirectional elements, preserving both direction information accuracy and signal coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device uses the distressed responder's emergency beacon as an intermediary signal source. The beacon transmits RF signals that are received by directional antennae on searching responders' devices. By processing these intermediary beacon signals through the directional antennae and thermal imager, the system can determine precise directional alignment and heading to the distressed responder while the beacon itself provides the omnidirectional signal coverage needed for reliable detection from any direction.
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
Enables quicker and safer location of distressed responders by providing clear directional cues, even in adverse conditions, reducing exposure time and risk for both the responder and their colleagues.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal imager configured to detect infrared light
Implementation Method 2
one or more directional antennae... receive one or more messages via the one or more directional antennae
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are computer-implemented systems and methods for a device that includes at least one processor programmed or configured to receive one or more messages from a device in an transmit state, the one or more messages comprising a first message received at a first power level, the first message comprising data associated with a power level at which the first message was transmitted by the transmitting device, and a second messages received at a second power level, the second message comprising data associated with a power level at which the second message was transmitted by the transmitting device. The processor is further configured to determine a heading toward the transmitting device based on the first message and the second message; and output data associated with an indication of the heading toward the transmitting device.