WPI Precision Personnel Locator – Successful Test of Indoor Location
Posted on Wed, Aug 08, 2012
by Carol Politi
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) held its annual Precision Personnel Locator Conference this week (sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, S&T Organization). The conference had a different feel than previous years – reflecting the fact that great leaps in technological progress have been made in the past year. TRX participated in several presentations and demonstrations, as did a host of researchers and companies focused on solving the problem of delivering safety for firefighters as they operate inside buildings.
First, in the test by Worcester Fire Department, the DHS S&T GLANSER team (Honeywell, Argon ST, and TRX) demonstrated the GLANSER system. Two tests were performed in a three story building with entries on multiple levels as well as split foyers. In the first scenario, a firefighter became trapped in the building and a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) had to be deployed. The RIT team successfully found the downed firefighter. In the second, firefighters became separated and were able to be re-connected through instructions made possible by looking at the 2D and 3D views of firefighter location. The GLANSER program is managed by Jalal Mapar of the DHS S&T. Thanks to Deputy Chief of Operations Sullivan and the entire Worcester team for their support with the testing!
TRX also presented and demonstrated its NEON Indoor Location System, including discussing a new program for the US Army that supports urban training operations. This program is intended to enhance live training effectiveness through implementation of the TRX system by warfighters engaged in urban training operations, and includes development of new features as well as integration into existing training architectures. Globe discussed its WASP (Wearable Advanced Sensor Platform) which includes an integration of the TRX NEON Indoor Location System and the Zephyr BioHarness. Globe also showcased that system - including integration into the firefighter turnout gear - and discussed test results from recent trials in Atlanta, GA and Annapolis, MD.
Thanks to all the firefighters that attend the WPI workshop. Your investment in providing time and feedback – including the all day usability workshops at last year’s WPI conference – drove significant enhancements into TRX products over the past year. This input certainly helped support a successful set of demonstrations at this year's Workshop.
