Sensing the danger

Wearable computers could prevent deaths among firefighters by helping them to navigate in smoke and assess danger levels.

Helmet-mounted displays and wearable sensors under development by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT) would measure the firefighters’ physical condition and the state of their surroundings before sending data via radio to a command post. Information and instructions would then be relayed back to a display on the helmets.

The research is part of a European project, wearIT@work. Technologies under development include coin-sized radio relays that are distributed around a building after it is entered. These then build up a self-organising radio network to help firefighters’ navigation and orientation.

Sensors that measure temperature and air composition can also be distributed. Data is stored and processed in a computer in each firefighter’s belt buckle before being transmitted to a display — ideally in their helmet visor.

Sensors embedded in clothing and equipment will measure factors such as heart rate, electrical skin resistance and body temperature. These can be sent to team leaders so they can measure the health of those in a building and order an evacuation if necessary.