Positioning technology developed at KTH will save lives and protect emergency responders in hazardous environments.
Fire, smoke and zero visibility – a firefighter’s working environment is extreme. Now, with sensor-equipped footwear developed at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, firefighters can be even more effective at saving lives and property.
An innovative digital positioning system that uses sensors inside the heel of a boot makes it possible for emergency commanders to follow firefighters’ movements independently of infrastructure, and even 25 metres below ground.
Behind the project are Peter Händel, Professor of Signal Processing, John-Olof Nilsson, a researcher at KTH, and Jouni Ranta Kokko, a KTH researcher and research leader at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI).
The system they designed includes advanced sensors such as accelerometer and gyroscope, plus a processor. It can withstand shock and extremely high temperatures and remains operational where GPS positioning systems fail.
A wireless module worn on the shoulder sends the data to operational command. The precise information about responders’ location and movements enables emergency coordinators to control operations remotely and ensure that the firefighters remain effective and safe under extremely dangerous conditions.
“When the firefighters can work safer and more efficiently, they can also save more lives,” says Peter Händel, Professor of Signal Processing at KTH, one of those who worked on the development of the sensor shoe.
The system has been tested successfully with firefighters in real time, 25 metres below ground.
The positioning capability can also be used by others – such as police and military response forces, or medical services at major incidents. Even rescue work far below the ground, as in mines, can be facilitated by being able to position both workers and rescue teams without the need for extensive infrastructure.
The next step for the researchers is to make the sensors part of the sole, which would increase flexibility and open up more uses than when built into the heel. The idea is also that the sole will also generate its own power supply. The aim is also that the sole can be thin enough for use in ordinary shoes.
The Latest on: Digital positioning system
via Google News
The Latest on: Digital positioning system
- 'Full 5G coverage by 2025' to breathe vitality into digital economyon January 27, 2021 at 6:48 pm
China will basically "achieve full 5G network coverage in urban and rural areas" by the end of 2025, thereby creating a strong foundation for the use of 5G in consumer, industrial sectors and ...
- How Unity is positioning itself to democratize the metaverseon January 27, 2021 at 3:04 pm
Dr. Danny Lange and Timoni West of Unity join author Charlie Fink to talk about Unity’s role in supporting the new metaverses springing up.
- Novaco launches combined navigation and digital tracking solutionon January 27, 2021 at 9:43 am
Navigation services provider Novaco has developed a new all-in-one navigation data and tracking product for commercial and leisure vessels.
- Everest Group Names Capgemini a Leader in Application and Digital Services for Capital Marketson January 27, 2021 at 4:30 am
Capgemini announces that it has been named (ADS) in Capital Markets in Everest Group’s recently released “ADS in Capital Markets PEAK Matrix ® Assessment 2021.” Capgemini was evaluated by Everest ...
- Xi is positioning China as the world’s indispensable economy — and Biden’s greatest challengeon January 26, 2021 at 3:27 am
Biden’s America, but whose world will it be? Expect China’s President Xi Jinping to answer that question unequivocally on Monday with his keynote at the World Economic Forum’s first global virtual ...
- Op-Ed: Xi is positioning China as the world's indispensable economy — and Biden's greatest challengeon January 24, 2021 at 5:00 am
Xi's underlying message is this: the U.S. may once have been "the indispensable nation," but China now has become "the indispensable economy." ...
- Havas Health & You Evolves Network Positioning, Announces Chief Content Officer Hire Lars Bengston, and Launches Content Assemblyon January 22, 2021 at 3:00 am
Network hosts launch event, The Future of Health, highlighting insights into industry future, revived mission and new areas of investment NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2020 was a monumental ...
- Global Industry Convergence and Innovative Technologies Positioning Cars as Vehicles of Health - Market Study to 2025 - ResearchAndMarkets.comon January 21, 2021 at 6:07 am
The "Industry Convergence and Innovative Technologies Positioning Cars as Vehicles of Health, Global, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The automotive industry, already ...
- Digital positioning speeds up hospital buildon January 19, 2021 at 4:31 am
Engineering specialist Züblin completes piling works at Austrian hospital four weeks early with Leibherr’s LIPOS position system ...
- Vantage Bank Texas Selects CGI for Payments System Modernizationon January 15, 2021 at 1:04 am
Vantage Bank’s transformation, like many other financial institutions, started with the need to replace aging and costly legacy solutions, at the same time positioning ... growing array of digital ...
via Bing News