Dell EMC Unveils Proof of Concept (POC) for Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions

Analog Devices (Korea Representative Jaehoon Yang) and Dell EMC have unveiled a proof of concept (POC) for an Internet of Things (IoT) solution that tracks the health and location of first responders.

This POC IoT solution is designed to help first responders conduct rescues more safely and effectively in emergency situations, especially in harsh environments. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 60,000 firefighter injuries are reported in North America each year, with 25 percent of these injuries resulting from overexertion or sprains.

The newly unveiled POC IoT solution can track the location and vital signs of emergency responders, regardless of whether they are inside or outside a building. Emergency responders wear a smart wearable vest equipped with sensors, which monitors useful health metrics such as breathing rate, respiratory volume, and heart rate. Wirelessly connected boots track the wearer's location and movements.

These metrics allow emergency response teams to immediately identify potential health issues among first responders and track those who are separated from the team, thereby improving the health and safety of rescuers and increasing the success rate of rescues. All relevant data extracted from vests and boots is collected by an edge gateway device and transmitted via a wireless network to a secure private cloud.

Data transmitted from the crew is displayed on a screen in the portal via a dashboard, accessible to the control team on site or in the central control center where the emergency occurred. Analysis of this data not only monitors the health of rescue workers but also enables rapid response, ensuring their safety. Furthermore, analyzing vital sign data accumulated over multiple sessions can ensure the safety of rescue workers.

The POC IoT solution utilizes INFINITE, a testbed approved by the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC). The INFINITE testbed was developed by Dell Technologies, Vodafone, and Cork Institute of Technology to drive innovation, insights, and business opportunities in the industrial IoT across various industries.

The platform for this POC IoT solution can be adapted for other missions in GPS-deprived environments, such as precision inertial measurement units (IMUs) for dead-reckoning navigation, by integrating with a broader range of sensing technologies. Products such as Analog Devices' ADIS16448 IMU can augment existing first responder platforms with a fully integrated, calibrated sensor array (gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, and pressure sensors), enabling infrastructure-free navigation solutions even in complex and harsh environments.

This POC IoT solution utilizes Hexoskin's innovative e-textile platform. Earlier this year, Analog Devices announced a collaboration with Hexoskin and Microsoft on a unique wearable IoT solution for athlete and team performance management. The IoT solution allows coaches and team staff to monitor useful health and performance metrics, such as player movement and heart rate, while players wear sensor-equipped vests.

Analog Devices presented a proof-of-concept IoT solution for first responders, along with the Hexoskin vest and testbed, at the IoT Solutions World Congress in Barcelona from October 25 to 27, 2016.