I-Corps: An Emergency Electro-Mechanical Communication System for Underground Tunnels and Mines

这个I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发地下隧道的紧急通信技术。地下隧道在世界范围内有许多用途，从采矿业到通过地铁和铁路隧道进行运输。地下灾害事件很常见，尤其是在采矿业。目前的通信技术包括有线电话和地下隧道和矿井中的本地WiFi调制解调器。然而，在正常条件下可操作的现有解决方案在由于倒塌的屋顶、断裂的电缆、停电或网络故障而导致的紧急情况下通常无法操作。当试图穿过倒塌的墙壁和岩石时，使用手机等基于无线电波的技术进行通信并不是一个可行的解决方案。所提出的技术可能会在灾难中为救援人员和被困在地下深处的个人提供一条生命线。这个I-Corps项目是基于开发一种数据通信技术，当目前的方法无法工作时，该技术使用机械波和地下隧道中的现有基础设施。为了最大限度地提高被困在地下深处的人在不寻常和危及生命的条件下的生存可能性，提出了机电通信系统的发展作为一套新的通信设备。该技术利用隧道和矿井中现有的管道作为通信介质。 这些管道在灾难期间发生故障的可能性要低得多。这样的基础设施在灾难性事件中不太可能崩溃。所提出的技术是基于研究，该研究表明，除了固体中的机械加速度通道外，还有一种机械应变通道可用于通信。 基于分数粒子位移参数，建立了应变传播通道。这是固体颗粒在受到机械振动时的局部位移量。与其他信道相比，该信道已显示出提供上级通信性能。鉴于救援人员和被困井下人员之间需要可靠的通信联系，市场可能已经为这项新技术做好了准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of an emergency communication technology for underground tunnels. Underground tunnels have numerous uses worldwide, ranging from the mining industry to transportation via subways and railroad tunnels. Disastrous events underground are common, especially in the mining industry. Current communication technologies include wired phones and local WiFi modems in underground tunnels and mines. However, existing solutions that are operative under normal conditions often fail to operate during emergencies due to collapsed roofs, broken cables, power outages, or network failures. Communication using radio wave-based technologies such as cell phones is not a viable solution when hundreds to thousands of meters underground when trying to pass through collapsed walls and rocks. The proposed technology may provide a lifeline between the rescue workers and the trapped individuals deep underground in catastrophes.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a data communication technology using mechanical waves and existing infrastructures in underground tunnels when current methods fail to work. To maximize the likelihood of survival of people trapped deep underground, under unusual and life-threatening conditions, development of an electro-mechanical communication system is proposed as a new suite of communication devices. This proposed technology utilizes the existing pipelines in tunnels and mines as the medium for communication. These pipelines have a much lower likelihood of failure during catastrophes. Such infrastructures are less likely to break in catastrophic events. The proposed technology is based on research that shows that in addition to mechanical acceleration channels in solids, there also is a mechanical strain channel that may be used for communication. The strain communication channel is formulated based on the fractional particle displacement parameter. This is the amount of local displacement of a solid particle when exposed to mechanical vibrations. This channel has shown to offer superior communication performance compared to other channels. Given the need for a reliable communication link between rescue workers and people trapped underground, the market may be ready for the new technology.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.