Multifunctional Sensor for Search and Rescue

Search and rescue forces are routinely tasked with performing personnel and material recovery in confined space environments, where they may encounter a full spectrum of environmental threats, including chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE), electrical, and atmospheric hazards.  To determine the safety of confined spaces and other rescue environments, multiple pieces of specialized equipment are currently used.  Unfortunately, the equipment in such kits has limited capability to identify all of the hazards that directly impact and heighten the threat to units to safely perform their assignments.  The need to carry and use multiple pieces of specialized equipment makes it challenging for personnel to do their jobs effectively.   Because nothing currently exists that meets the wide-ranging detection needs of personnel and for search and rescue missions in confined spaces a small, lightweight and portable multifunctional sensor instrument will be defined and developed for this demanding application.  Synkera Technologies proposed to use sensors from current product line, available off-the-shelf sensors, and to develop sensors as necessary to meet the application.  The instrument that is developed will not hinder the user and will provide real-time information to assess threats and determine a plan to carryout intended missions. BENEFIT: In addition to aiding military personnel carry out search and rescue missions, this project also offers the potential for a highly successful non-military commercialization.  According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are 2.3 million front line first responders in the U.S., including fire departments, police, EMTs and bomb disposal.  In addition, support to these front line responders in the form of port security, public health agencies, hospitals, emergency management, public works, venue security and others comprises an additional 23 million individuals.  These end-users could benefit from the multifunctional sensor proposed here, but cost reduction is critical.  Provided the multifunctional sensor for search and rescue can be demonstrated, the resulting market opportunity is quite sufficient to interest venture capitalists or corporate partners to fund cost reduction, manufacturing scale-up and product distribution channel development.  If just 10% of the front line first responders (230,000 individuals) were provided with a multifunctional sensor system retailing at $500, the resulting revenue would be in excess of $100 million.  A successful scale-up effort and penetration of the commercial market would result in significant cost reduction for US military markets.