Dynamic Electronic Guides for Safe Evacuation Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Venues under construction lack effective systems to safely direct occupants away from dangerous conditions such as fires or security threats, as existing alarm systems only notify but do not guide people to safety.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electronic guides with visual and audible indicators that can be configured to direct people away from or towards specific areas using color-coded arrows and signals, managed by processing circuitry and management circuitry via wireless communication, to establish safe evacuation paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed evacuation routes and exit signs are used to direct occupants, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the routes may lead occupants into dangerous conditions rather than away from them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming static exit signs into dynamic electronic indicators that can change direction and location based on real-time incident conditions. The electronic guides receive updates from management circuitry to dynamically adjust evacuation paths, ensuring occupants are directed away from dangerous areas rather than following fixed routes that may lead into hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through management circuitry that monitors incident conditions and communicates with electronic guides to adjust evacuation routes. The electronic indicators receive real-time information about dangerous conditions and modify their guidance accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes evacuation paths based on current safety conditions.
2Loss of information
If alarm systems notify occupants of dangerous conditions, then early warning is provided, but occupants are not directed away from the dangerous conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alarm notification function with the evacuation guidance function into a single integrated system. The electronic guides serve both to alert occupants of dangerous conditions and to provide directional guidance away from those conditions, eliminating the information gap about safe evacuation paths while avoiding the complexity of completely separate notification and guidance systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic indicator system performs multiple functions: it serves as both an alarm notification device and a directional guidance system. The same electronic guides that alert occupants to dangers also provide real-time direction to safe areas, making the system universal and multi-functional rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each function.
3Loss of time
If shortest routes are used for evacuation, then evacuation time is minimized, but the shortest route may not be the safest way to exit the building
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making evacuation routes adaptable rather than fixed. Electronic guides dynamically adjust to balance speed and safety by directing occupants along the quickest safe path available, considering real-time incident conditions. This allows the system to optimize for time when safe routes are clear while automatically rerouting around dangers when they arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of route selection from static shortest-path to dynamic safety-optimized path. Management circuitry modifies the guidance parameters based on incident location and severity, transforming the evacuation route from a fixed geometric shortest path to a flexible path that prioritizes safety while minimizing time loss through intelligent routing decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
Incident response methods include receiving notification that an incident has occurred, determining a source of the notification, the source being near the incident, and establishing at least one guided path configured to direct a first person, a first animal, or a first movable device positioned near the source away from the incident and/or to direct a second person, a second animal, or a second movable device toward the incident. Electronic guides include an indicator, and processing circuitry configured to receive a request to configure the indicator from an inactive state to an active state in which the indicator encourages a first person positioned near a first side of the electronic guide to move toward the electronic guide and encourages a second person positioned near a second side of the electronic guide to move away from the electronic guide and configure the indicator according to the request.