Hi-tech comms vehicle ensures emergency services are connected in extreme conditions
Credit: press materials
It looks like an ordinary passenger van but this hi-tech emergency version is packed with with the latest in specialised communication technology to help emergency services with planning and carrying out rescue operations.
Developed by engineers at the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology at the Warsaw University of Technology, the prototype can operate without external power sources meaning mobile phones, for example, continue working seven if the cellular network is down.
Named the Mobile Distribution Point of ICT Infrastructure, the system’s constructor Dr. Grzegorz Kasprowicz said: “Our technology is not only signal transmission, but also its integration and interpretation.
“This means, for example, that we not only receive the image transmitted by foot patrol officers from the area of their operation, but we can automate the transmission process directly to the OST112 notification network.
“It also means access to useful information, e.g. from police databases of wanted or dangerous persons.”
He added that the modular system allows for any tele-technical configuration, and thus a quick adjustment of hardware and communication channels to the existing situation.
He said: “Different solutions are suitable for policemen searching for missing persons, fire fighters fighting fires and commanders of public service forces protecting and securing mass events."
Dr. Zbigniew M. Wawrzyniak who coordinates testing and evaluation of the system added that the vehicle's field tests are currently being carried out according to the scenarios of various services which say the equipment meets their real technical and tactical requirements.
The system immediately builds a uniform Wi-Fi network, and therefore it provides communication with one access device, although in fact the network can create multiple intermediate points. This solution not only improves the Wi-Fi signal range, but also reduces transmission losses, improves the stability of the network operation and can be easily installed and configured.
Content transmission is possible in the form of audio and video streams. The system offers not only information transfer, but also provides good voice, text communication and high resolution image transmission.
Push to Talk technology enables quick communication within the selected group of users - broadcasting information is enabled by pressing and holding the button. Communication points are visualized on a map.
The user can choose a medium with or without GSM, WiFi - the system is switches and adapts to the selected infrastructure variant. Communication is possible through radiotelephones, digital radio links, radio line or satellite communication. The system is integrated with a 112 network access node - a nationwide ICT network that is the basis for the operation of the Rescue Notification System.
The system was presented during this year's International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce. The MPDIT vehicle with expert equipment and software is a measurable result achieved jointly with consortium members: the Police Academy in Szczytno and the companies Vortex and Longevity, as part of the project carried out since December 2018: 'Mobile Distribution Point of ICT Infrastructure (MPDIT)'.
The project worth PLN 9.9 million was 83 percent co-financed by the National Research and Development Centre as part of the 2018 Security and Defence Competition BiO9.
PAP - Science in Poland
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