SBIR Phase I: Set Point Solutions - Safeguarding Lives By Enabling Communication in Austere and Remote Environments

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将把现有无线通信设备的范围扩大到简陋和偏远的环境。公共安全机构现在将能够更有效地利用现有资源，精确定位受困人员的地理位置和/或将有需要的人与特定资源和人员联系起来，以促进他们的救援。螺旋桨驱动的弹丸辅助中继器/传输中继器(PARROT)技术将使需要在偏远地区或紧急情况下进行通信的民用市场受益。潜在客户包括其职业或假期将他们带到可能影响有效沟通能力的严酷地点的个人。此外，对于那些工作经常需要在缺乏强大或正常运作的通信基础设施的地区：商用卡车司机、海关和边境巡逻队(CBP)特工、联邦紧急事务管理局(FEMA)响应人员、搜救队等的个人来说，鹦鹉将是一个救命装备。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目重点介绍了通信解决方案如何通过调制特定的频率范围历史演变而来，而用于解决这个问题的方法是允许用户指定继电器的位置并迅速将该物理继电器(能够在足够长的时间内游荡以允许双向通信)引入他们的环境。设想中的设备可以利用现有工具来部署其创新技术。更多的变种可以作为提供给户外爱好者的一体式工具包的一部分进行开发。主要的科学和工程研究目标是设计、开发和设计足够小的电子部件，使其符合所需的外形尺寸，但又足够坚固，可以承受与弹道、短管发射相关的重大回退力。将使用计算机辅助设计/制造(CAD/CAM)过程对设计进行建模、原型、测试和评估。一旦这项任务完成，该设备将能够保护全球急救人员和户外运动爱好者的生命。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will extend the range of on-hand wireless communications devices to austere and remote environments. Public safety agencies will now be able to utilize available resources more efficiently, precisely geolocating distressed individuals and/or connecting individuals in need with specific resources and personnel to facilitate their rescue. The propeller-enabled Projectile Assisted Repeater/Relay Of Transmissions (PARROT) technology will benefit the civilian market that requires communication in remote locations or emergency situations. Potential customers include individuals whose vocation or vacation takes them into austere locations where the ability to communicate effectively may be compromised. Additionally, the PARROT would be a lifesaving piece of equipment for individuals whose work often requires them to be in areas lacking robust or functioning communication infrastructure: commercial truck drivers, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responders, search and rescue teams, etc. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project highlights how communications solutions historically evolved by modulating the specific frequency range, whereas the approach applied to solving this problem is to allow the user to prescribe the location of a relay and rapidly introduce that physical relay (capable of loitering for sufficient time to allow for two-way communications) into their environment. The envisioned device could utilize existing tools to deploy its innovative technology. Additional variants could be developed as part of all-in-one kits supplied to outdoors enthusiasts. The principal scientific and engineering research objectives are to engineer, develop, and design electronic components small enough to fit in the desired form factor, yet rugged enough to withstand the significant set-back forces associated with ballistic, short-tube launches. Computer aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) processes will be used to model, prototype, test, and evaluate the design. Once that task is completed, the device will be able to safeguard the lives of first responders and outdoors enthusiasts globally.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.