PFI:AIR-TT: LoCATER:Localization and Accountability Technology for Emergency Responders

该PFI：AIR技术翻译项目专注于翻译自主机器人导航的研究发现，以开发定位和个人责任报告检查技术，以满足在GPS拒绝环境中具有可接受精度的地理定位系统的需求。LocATER是一种可穿戴的定位和责任报告检查技术，具有重要的商业，工业，应急响应和军事应用。它将通过为事件指挥官提供一个工具来做出基于度量的响应，救援和恢复决策，从而改变应急响应小组的运作和效率。 LocATER可以提高在GPS和WiFi信号不可用的环境中工作人员的安全性。 该项目将产生一个低成本的LocATER综合概念验证。研究团队将开发具有三个独特功能的LocATER技术：（i）将燃烧的建筑物内的消防员准确地定位到象限和楼层的能力，（ii）用于向消防员提供快速完成责任报告检查的工具的功能，减少与他们相关联的无线电业务和开销，以及（iii）低成本、便携式，和重量轻的设计，可以在没有外部参考信号（如GPS、WiFi或其他预先部署的系统）的情况下运行。这些功能将使LocATER技术在可用性、效率、功效和实际部署方面与该市场领域的领先竞争本地化技术相比更具优势。 该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距。将惯性和视觉测距信息融合，设计并在嵌入式系统上实现二维同时定位和地图构建算法。来自惯性测量单元的位置和速度数据将与气压数据融合以确定楼层信息。将采用基于整体模型的设计方法来开发和验证一个系统，该系统将满足应急响应操作条件下可接受的尺寸、重量和功率要求。此外，参与该项目的人员，本科生和研究生以及博士后研究人员将通过参加东北大学的创业训练营获得创业和技术翻译经验，这是一个为期8周的计划，旨在提高参与团队对技术翻译和商业化的理解。此外，项目人员将有权出席和参与波士顿？该项目与波士顿消防局合作，在整个设计过程中寻求关键反馈，并获得测试设施，以及一些消防设备制造商，以确定与现有产品集成的途径，将这项技术从研究发现转化为商业现实。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating research discoveries on autonomous robot navigation to develop a localization and personal accountability report check technology to fill the need for a geolocation system with acceptable accuracy in GPS-denied environments. The LocATER, a wearable localization and accountability report check technology, has significant commercial, industrial, emergency response and military applications. It will transform operations and efficiency of emergency response teams by providing the incident commanders with a tool to make metric-based response, rescue and recovery decisions. The LocATER can enhance the safety of personnel working in environments where GPS and WiFi signals are not available. The project will result in a low-cost, integrated proof-of-concept of the LocATER. The research team will develop the LocATER technology with three unique features: (i) ability to accurately localize firefighters inside a burning building to a quadrant and floor, (ii) functionality for providing firefighters with a tool to quickly complete an accountability report check, reducing radio traffic and overhead associated with them, and (iii) low-cost, portable, and light-weight design that can operate without external reference signals such as GPS, WiFi or other pre-deployed systems. These features will make the LocATER technology more advantageous in terms of usability, efficiency, efficacy and practical deployments when compared to the leading competing localization technologies in this market space.  This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. A 2-dimensional simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm will be designed and implemented on an embedded system by fusing the inertial and visual odometry information. The position and velocity data from an inertial measurement unit will be fused with barometric pressure data to determine the floor information. A holistic model-based design approach will be adopted to develop and validate a system that will meet size, weight and power requirements acceptable for emergency responder operating conditions. In addition, personnel involved in this project, undergraduate and graduate students as well as the postdoctoral researchers will receive entrepreneurship and technology translation experiences through participation in Northeastern's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, an 8-week program aimed at enhancing participating teams' understanding of technology translation and commercialization. Furthermore, the project personnel will be empowered to attend and participate in the rich lineup of events within the Boston?s robotics and internet-of-things innovation ecosystem.The project engages the Boston Fire Department to seek critical feedback throughout the design process and access to testing facilities, and a number of firefighting equipment manufacturers to identify pathways for integration with existing products in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.