In a bid to improve equipment and technology for first responders, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it is offering a helmet-mounted indoor visualization and navigation device to fire departments across the country. Developed by Austin, Texas startup Qwake Technologies in collaboration with the DHS, this device – called C-THRU – allows first responders to see through dark smoke.
“Providing improved equipment and technology for our first responders is crucial,” said Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “The C-THRU device is designed to help save lives and protect firefighters.”
The device is hands-free, lightweight, and equipped with a high-speed thermal camera that captures surroundings in real-time. It also includes navigation features for backtracking and turn-by-turn guidance.
There are 400 prototype devices available for fire departments to apply for. In case of emergency, the device includes a mayday function that can be activated to alert other wearers in the area to find and assist the distressed first responder. The device will also receive over-the-air software updates to continuously improve its capabilities.
The DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s collaborative partnerships with industry are aimed at leveraging emerging technology to meet the most urgent needs of first responders. The C-THRU device is just one example of how innovative technology can address challenges faced by firefighters in the line of duty.