Wireless Fire Identification

To address the Air Force need for a wireless fire detection system, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to complete the development of a new Wireless Fire Identification (WiFireID) system. It is based on a four-band optical sensor, an omnidirectional lens, and a ZigBee wireless network. The innovation in coupling an omnidirectional lens with a four-band optical sensor will enable WiFireID to detect fires over a large field of view at a very high speed (2.5 ms from ignition) and minimize false detections (<0.00154%/year). The sensor package will weigh 5 ounces in a form factor of ~3 cubic inches. Each package will be easily installable/reconfigurable during maintenance because of the use of electrically debonding adhesives, which can be attached in <2 minutes per sensor in hard-to-access locations. Each WiFireID sensor will communicate with the cockpit warning system and automatic fire suppression/extinguishing subsystem via a wireless transceiver connected to the MIL-STD-1553 bus. In Phase I POC demonstrated the feasibility of WiFireID by creating a prototype that detects fires and rejects nonfire sources. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a field-testable prototype that can be used under aircraft operating conditions to demonstrate its ability to detect fires in aircraft. BENEFIT: WiFireID will offer benefits to the entire aerospace industry by providing a reliable, inexpensive, and wireless fire detection system capable of being installed in aircraft, even in inaccessible areas, quickly, during normal maintenance. It will provide faster detection, lower take-off gross weight, and greater reliability and cost effectiveness than present systems.