Tracking, Safety, and Tracking, Safety, and Navigation System for Navigation System for

FirefightersFirefighters

Wayne C. Haase, Ph.D.Summit Safety, Inc.

OutlineOutline

IntroductionLocating/Finding TechniquesTechnology ChoicesPersonnel Ultrasonic Locating Safety EquipExisting SystemsSummary

IntroductionIntroduction

BackgroundSearch TechniquesPASS and TICDecember 1999 Fire in Worcester, MA

Locating/Finding TechniquesLocating/Finding Techniques

Location vs Path: Search vs RescueBlind SearchHoming BeaconActive SearchTriangulation

Technology ChoicesTechnology Choices

Optical: VisibleOptical: InfraredRadioAcoustic: AudibleAcoustic: Ultrasonic

WavelengthWavelength

Visible 3 x 108 m/s 4 x 1014 Hz 0.75 umInfrared 3 x 108 m/s 3 x 1014 Hz 1.0 umInfrared 3 x 108 m/s 2 x 1013 Hz 14 umUltrasound 330 m/s 40 KHz 8.25 mmRadio (uw) 3 x 108 m/s 2.4 GHz 125 mmRadio (GPS) 3 x 108 m/s 1.575 GHz 191 mmSound 330 m/s 1 KHz 330 mmRadio (FM) 3 x 108 m/s 100 MHz 3 mRadio (AM) 3 x 108 m/s 1 MHz 300 m

c = f

Optical: VisibleOptical: Visible

E-M WavesLine of SightReflected Only by MirrorsNo Wall PenetrationPenetrates GlassRayleigh Scattering

Optical: Infrared (Thermal)Optical: Infrared (Thermal)

E-M Waves Line of Sight Reflected by Gold Mirrors No Wall Penetration No Glass Penetration Limited Rayleigh Scattering Image Inversion Thermal Overload/Masking

RadioRadio

E-M WavesWall Penetration at Lower FrequenciesDielectric Absorption at Higher Freq (GPS)No Rayleigh ScatteringBlocked by Metals“Line of Sight”

Acoustic: Audible & UltrasoundAcoustic: Audible & Ultrasound

Longitudinal Pressure WavesReflected by Solid SurfacesPenetrate Porous MaterialsNo Rayleigh ScatteringAttenuation at Very High FrequenciesAcoustic PathInterference at Lower Frequencies

Frequency ChoiceFrequency Choice Beam Pattern L = D2/4 Z = 1.22 /D All Waves

Far Field Near Field

z

L

D

KHz D [in] D/ L [mm] Z 2 Z

40 3 9.2 176 7.6 1520 3 4.6 88 15 304 3 0.9 18 76 1514 7 2.5 96 32 651 7 0.5 24 130 259

Why Ultrasound?Why Ultrasound?

Not Affected by Fire EnvironmentSmall, Directional ReceiverNo Rayleigh ScatteringReflected Waves: Locate Behind Obstacles,

Behind Doors, and Around CornersNo Blind AlleysIndicates Path

Pulse SystemPulse System

Personnel Ultrasonic Locating Safety EquipBeacon: Omnidirectional TransmitterTracker: Directional ReceiverFirefighter, Exit, Tot-Finder BeaconsRange: 150+ feetTime: 2-5 minutes (typical)

BeaconBeacon

Ultrasonic Transmitter Motion Sensor Audible Annunciator LED Indicators 2 Reset Switches Alarm Switch Activation Clip Monitor/Pre-Alarm/Alarm

TrackerTracker

Directional U/S ReceiverLED Bargraph for SignalMode Switch & LEDsAudible AnnunciatorLED Bargraph for Battery

Other SystemsOther Systems

Personal Alert Safety System (PASS)– Difficult to Locate w/o Ultrasound

Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC)– Line of Sight– Debris– Thermal Masking/Overload– Could Use Pulse Technology

SummarySummary

Technologies– Optical, Radio, Acoustic

Locating Techniques– Location vs Path

Pulse System– Beacon & Tracker