The article researched, “Emerging Technologies Being Incorporated in the Fire Service”, discuses eight new devices developed for the Fire Service. It summarizes these new devices without detailed description, providing an overview of the ways new technology is being integrated into firefighting equipment. These devices include three solutions for monitoring a fire truck’s condition, diagnosing issues, and alerting operators when a malfunction occurs or maintenance is required (Petrillo). Additionally, these solutions allow for improved telemetry and remote diagnostics (Petrillo). These are meant to increase a vehicle’s service life and connect various on-board systems together (Petrillo). Their telemetry functions also allow the Fire Service improved control of its fleet of service vehicles.
The article describes a new water pump system, called the Hydra. This new device promises durability and versatility, and can be configured for improved ergonomics and operator efficiency (Petrillo). Another pump-related innovation mentioned is the Phantom Controls Scene Apparatus Manager (SAM), which is meant to automate the manual controls of a fire pump (Petrillo). As this system can be controlled remotely through a tablet, the operator can now move freely to get better visibility or a safer location (Petrillo). These improvements can help improve a fire team’s efficiency and safety.
New improvements are also described for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The C-Thru is a system that projects data from a thermal camera to a pair of augmented reality lenses worn under the SCBA face piece (Petrillo). This gives the firefighter better awareness in a smoke-filled environment, while also relaying a live feed to the incident commander (Petrillo). The MSA Hub is another device intended for work with the SCBA, collating a variety of data, including physiological data, from the SCBA’s sensors (Petrillo). This device allows for improved status monitoring and analysis on the scene.
The final device described in the article is the HAAS Alert, a module for civilian cars. It is designed to be built into the car’s electronics system and alert the driver if an emergency vehicle is approaching (Petrillo). Furthermore, the company is negotiating with car manufacturers and emergency services to ensure the device is installed on newly-built vehicles (Petrillo). This can significantly improve road safety for both civilian drivers and Fire Service vehicles.
Work Cited
Petrillo, Alan M. “Emerging Technologies Being Incorporated in the Fire Service.” Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine, 2018.