Project: A SURVIVORS DETECTION SYSTEM FOR THE SEARCH & RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS

We aim at developing an innovative, first of its kind short-range, high-accuracy sensor that can detect and locate survivors in disasters areas, using unique technology of ultra-wide band transmission._x000D_In many situations, rescue personnel find it hard to detect survivors in time to provide aid due to poor visibility conditions. For example:_x000D_• Firefighters in a building with smoke-filled rooms where survivors cannot be seen_x000D_• Fog in regions where an accident has occurred_x000D_• Smog in regions where an accident has occurred_x000D_• Survivors covered by snow (avalanche)_x000D_• Survivors in thickly forested locations_x000D__x000D_In these types of situations the rescue forces make a search of the area by vocal calls (which unconscious survivors cannot hear), feeling the surroundings by hand (smoke-filled rooms), prodding with long sticks (avalanche), etc. These types of searches are slow, do not cover the area sufficiently and do not enable easy distinguishing between survivors and similar objects. As a result, there are many situations where rescue personnel do not reach the survivors in time, and the chances to save them drop. The time to detection is a critical parameter in this line of activity, and our product will shorten it significantly._x000D__x000D_The purpose of the project is to create an innovative device for finding survivors. The device will have the following characteristics:_x000D__x000D_ * Reliable mapping in a noisy environment _x000D_ * Achieving high probability of detection_x000D_ * Coverage of large areas in a very short time. The range will move from a few meters to a few hundreds of meters, depending on the nature of the movement of the person, and the transferability of the medium_x000D_ * Portability - easy to carry and operate_x000D_ * Low price_x000D__x000D_Our vision is to make our a product a standard in the Search and Rescue (S&R) world. We believe that creating a unique solution with the above characteristics will cause a revolution in the way S&R teams are working and acting. Once we will create a low-cost and reliable solution, Every S&R organization will equip its personnel with this life-saving device._x000D__x000D_The concept to be implemented is based on locating survivors using UWB transmission technology. This technology provides very high range resolution enabling the detection of small-scale movement in the size order of several millimeters, such as the movement of the chest cavity of a breathing person even when unconscious. Thus the rescuer will be able to ascertain within a very short time if there are survivors in the region who are still breathing and give them aid._x000D_The operator of the system will get warning by a sound and symbol of the existence any living being in the region of coverage, and of course its location._x000D_The UWB technology looks promising for several reasons: As mentioned, it has very high accuracy; the nature of the signal allows it to penetrate and bypass obstacles; its range is in the order of a few hundreds of meters; and it is expected to get cheaper and cheaper, as communication devices will start using this technology for short-range high-bandwidth data-link channel (like wireless USB). The mass production of the chip is expected to lower its price._x000D_The UWB transmission is characterized by very short transmission time. If normal radars and communication systems transmit pulses with duration of the order of microseconds (which translate to bandwidth of MHz), UWB devices transmit pulses with duration of tens or hundreds of picoseconds (which derive bandwidth of GHz). Therefore, UWB technology allows transmitting pulses with a 1000 times larger bandwidth than conventional methods._x000D_The system will measure two elements: the distance and the angle to the subject . The antennas, sampler, transmitter, processing unit and display unit will be part of the same physical package._x000D__x000D_About the Ps: Geozondas and Elisra have already been managing collaborative self-funded activities for the past two years, in order to exchange vital knowledge and examine several concepts. Geozondas Ltd designs, manufactures and tests hardware and software for RF/UWB applications and tests telecommunication equipment, with extensive portfolio of intellectual property. The products and services provided by Geozondas utilized by many companies and organizations all over the world. Elisra electronic systems ltd. develops and manufactures electronic warfare systems. In the last 10 years, Elisra has developed growing expertise in Search and Rescue (S&R) systems (design, develop, manufacture and market products). Only the complementary capabilities (UWB RF circuits by Geozondas and advanced Signal Processing algorithms by Elisra) will enable the development of such an innovative product. Today, a similar comprehensive operational solution does not exist.

Acronym	IN-SIGHT (Reference Number: 5167)
Duration	01/07/2010 - 30/06/2013
Project Topic	WE AIM AT DEVELOPING A SENSOR WHICH WILL DETECT LIVING SURVIVORS WITHIN RANGE OF ~3-100 METERS IN DISASTER AREAS AND IN A FEW SECONDS WHILE USING INNOVATIVE ULTRA WIDEBAND TECHNOLOGY TO ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED RESPONSE TIMES AND ACCURACIES
Project Results (after finalisation)	Elisra together with its close P, Geozondas have successfully developed produced and tested a prototype of a revolutionary Search and rescue radar to be used by Rescue forces. The developed radar meet the expectation in terms of its performance and its compliance to the design goals. the radar is able to detect live people in different scenarios such as behind rabbles , in smoke, behind walls and inside dense vegetation. the radar is easy to operate , with user friendly display and operation
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 3

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
2	Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd.	Partner	Israel
2	Geozondas Ltd.	Coordinator	Lithuania