WO2017208060A1

WO2017208060A1 - Spherical device with integrated technology for assisting operations for rescuing missing persons or unreachable victims in disasters

Info

Publication number: WO2017208060A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/055928
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andres Gabriel SANCHEZ COMAS
Original assignee: Corporacion Universidad De La Costa - Cuc
Priority date: 2016-06-03
Filing date: 2016-10-04
Publication date: 2017-12-07

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spherical device for supporting rescue teams in disaster zones where the rescuers cannot easily reach the victim and it is necessary to supply the victim with sufficient resources to be able to inform the rescuers of his or her state of health, the means necessary to ensure his or her survival until the rescue teams arrive at the site (first aid kits, food, etc.), and other devices so that the victim can warn the rescue teams about the conditions of the surroundings, improve his or her visibility, and report the general state of the surroundings and any variation or change in same during the rescue operation.

Description

SPHERICAL DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY FOR ASSISTANCE OF RESCUE PROCESSES IN DISASTERS TO LOST PERSONS OR INACCESSIBLE VICTIMS TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to support devices for rescue teams in disaster areas, where victims are not easily accessible to rescuers and it is necessary to provide them with sufficient resources so that they can inform rescuers about their state of health and identity, the necessary elements to guarantee their survival while rescue teams arrive at the site and support their location, alert rescue teams about the conditions of the environment and their location, and monitor and record any variation or change in it during how long the rescue lasts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the rescue of victims has become a highly sensitive issue and of great importance, since the life of the person depends on the speed with which the service is provided and, above all, the possibility of arriving to where the victim is after an accident or an event or tragedy, whether natural or not.

Thus, in the state of the art there are elements that help in the rescue of victims, which can correspond to spheres speakers that can be deployed in a home or office and that reproduce the sound through bluetooth communication or similar, when integrated into The central terminal in addition to charging the batteries can become a medium-sized speaker if desired. On the other hand, there is also a device that is a spherical camera that moves autonomously throughout the location where it is located, its movement is silent and discreet without disturbing the privacy of people in the environment.

At the patent level, in the state of the art there are developments for rescue processes that could be taken as similarities but that differ both in form and functionality, and turn out to be very limited in their applicability. From the above we see for example the following patents all of the United States, patent US20140253325 "Automatic Life Alarm", which is a Mechanical Sensor Device in the form of a geodetic convex body whose faces serve as activation for alarm patterns, which are activated with muscle movement, which can be coupled in sign markers vital handles, and that activate alarms in case of loss of consciousness of the person wearing the device.

Also, patent application US20100274100 entitled "System and Method for monitoring subjects in potential situations of psychological stress" which is a group of sensors tied with a strap on different parts of the body (Torso, Arms, Shoulders) that transmit the measured signals wirelessly to a central monitoring system.

Finally, the patent application US20100300347 entitled "Emergency Position Indicator Device using Radar Cross Section", which is an emergency positioning indicator device in case of shipwrecks, which allows a balloon floating to be deployed from the life vest certain height, and whose surface allows to reflect the waves of waves of the airplanes or of the ships, thus throwing a positioning data, also has a fluorescent bar for night scenes.

However, there are patent documents that already take a spherical shape, but that continue to differ in their functionality and in addition to a limited applicability. We have the case of the CN103077567A patent entitled "Electronic Ball Guide for rescue ropes", which in the upper hemisphere of the ball is transparent and houses a signaling light, can be hung on ropes rescue to signal night rescue scenarios where the rope goes.

However, in the state of the art there is also a plurality of disclosures related to this type of spherical devices, within which is document CN 2441678 describing an automatic ball that can be controlled remotely or in accordance with a series of programs, where the ball or sphere is based on the principle that has a motor and a rotor connected to the internal wall of the sphere, where the body of the sphere can be controlled by means of programs installed in it or in a wireless remote mode through a monolithic computer, a sensor and a remote control device, so that the sphere can be stopped, rotated, balanced and so on. This sphere can be used for detection, transportation, rescue, military affairs, recreation, etc.

On the other hand, we have document CN 102305842, which defines a wireless detection sphere for use in hazardous areas, which comprises a protective cover, a shell, at least one gas sensor, a data processing device, a wireless transmitter module and a power source, where the shell is located on the protective cover, the sensor is located in the shell, the data processing device is electrically connected to the gas sensor, the wireless transmitter module connects electrically with the data processing device, and the protective cover is divided and has a plurality of holes close to the sensor.

In addition to the above, there is document CN 202454034 which discloses a sphere for the call for help, which comprises an external body formed by combining an upper portion and a lower portion, and an accommodation space is formed. The device comprises a power source disposed within the accommodation space, an audio device disposed within the accommodation space and respectively and electrically connected to the power source and a speaker. It also comprises a wireless transmission device that allows constant communication with a remote station. The sphere is used when a disaster occurs and these devices can be distributed in a space to determine the location of people and carry out the rescue as soon as possible

Finally, there is document CN 20441 1526 that teaches a sphere of smoke filtering used in case of a fire emergency or similar, which has a front cover and a back cover that are threadedly connected through a screw to form a cavity, where the inside of the covers has a filter, a motor and a battery module, a rotating shaft of the motor fixedly connected with blades, a self-locking switch installed in the middle part of spherical cover surface frontal. Thus, the sphere is launched by rescue personnel in a blocked channel to filter the smoke or to filter the air in the vicinity of a person. Taking as a starting point the existing documents in the state of the art, as discussed above, there is then a lack of a technological device that can be deployed quickly and accurately in a disaster situation, easily introduced to environments of danger difficult to access either by people or by drones or robots, which is easily located by the victims, and also offers in an integrated way the possibility of carrying out In-Situ verification of a survivor's life, by manipulating the device or detection of the presence of a person or victim and thus transmit their vital signs to the rescue team alerting both these and the victim of the critical levels of vital signs. Likewise, the device is required to provide a life expectancy to a survivor, providing the victim with some essential elements of survival, first aid information tools, rescue routes and meeting points, and psychological and motivational support to the victim, allowing to increase the probability of life of the victim, send signals for the beginning of a rescue process or that the victim could be aware of a rescue process initiated, alert the Rescue Team and the Victim critical variables of the environment, and that also serves as a record of data and information of the incident or disaster. It is also necessary to provide the rescue team with signals, data and information necessary for the location of the survivor, as well as the means of communication of the survivor with the Rescuers, with other survivors and even other devices such as the present invention. It is also important to have an analysis of the situation, sending information of the environment and surrounding variables to the device of the present invention of the survivors or of the disaster environment in general, as well as recording of the survival scenario for subsequent analyzes or in real time, of the case.

According to the above, it can be clearly seen that there is currently a problem related to improving the survival rate of lost persons or disaster victims when they are in areas of difficult access to rescue teams, which slows the process rescue. What is wanted is to give the victims the necessary means so that they can report to the rescuers their vital signs and location, provide first aid to themselves or others in need of first aid, have basic supplies to survive while the rescue is achieved, and inform rescue teams of the conditions in the area in which they find, as well as any changes in them, and proportional signaling devices to improve their visibility towards rescue teams. From the previous information, it can also be seen that in the state of the art there is a need to design and implement a device capable of assisting in the rescue process for the victim, being able to be sent directly to the victim, or leaving strategically so that the survivors can find them, where the device is required to offer a good operational flexibility to deploy tools for the survival of the victims, that is, that it can be dragged by water currents, introduced by gutters, inserted into Landslides or left on a site by rescuers in search of a lost person. Additionally, it is preferable that the rescue device can be integrated into the current technologies of drones, robots, UAVs and the like, that is, that it can be deployed by such devices in places that the rescuer considers strategic, without leaving a drone or robot in each place, serving more than as an access, identification and transport tool, as an assistance to the victim during the rescue process, which will allow him to increase the probability of survival.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system for conveying the victims of the disaster or that can be found by lost persons, a spherical device with integrated technology to assist in the processes of rescue composed of a structure, which based on a modular architecture, the system can be configured and constructed under certain parameters according to the type of emergency scenario it is facing. Thus, the system of the present invention comprises a module holder, survival elements (compartment with medications, a knife / saw and earplugs), a flashlight, a compass or location and / or geo-positioning elements. The present invention also comprises an energy supply consisting of an energy storage device, a solar charge module, motion charge and / or induction charge. It also includes communication elements consisting of omnidirectional microphones and speakers, camera and wireless voice and data transmission. The device also comprises a plurality of sensors for capturing vital signs such as heart rate, body temperature and fingerprints. Sensors of environmental variables such as ambient temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, oxygen level, smoke and dangerous or poisonous gases, and vibration or impact. For the detection of the presence of people with sensors such as ultrasound, infrared, pyrosensors, contact pressure and image and voice processing software. It also has actuators comprising visual markers for rescuers and victims, sound markers and a vibrator. Photoresists or Photodiodes for daylight detection. A visual interface through a circular display. Several electronic cards in which other sensors are embedded as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and embedded systems necessary for communication systems data processing, voice, images and video, data and information storage as well as power management software, sensor and actuator control, first aid software, Conversational support software, logbook and black box, crisis analysis software (vital signs and depressive or hypoactive pictures) and decision-making software. Finally, the kit includes a rescue and control terminal. Operationally, the present invention offers flexibility to deploy tools for the survival of victims, since they can be launched from a helicopter, dragged by water currents, introduced by gutters, inserted into landslides or snow or left on site by rescuers. in search of a lost person. This development, in addition, is a complement to advanced rescue technologies such as UAVs, drones and robots, as they can be deployed by these devices in places that the rescuer considers strategic, without leaving a drone or robot in each place, serving more than as an access, identification and transport tool, as an assistance to the victim of the rescue process.

The system allows the In-Situ verification of a survivor's life, by manipulating the device or detecting the presence of a person and thus transmit their vital signs and identification of the victim to the rescue team. The device of the invention has the advantage that increases the life expectancy of the survivor, providing the victim with some essential elements of survival, first aid information, rescue routes and meeting points, which increase the probability of the victim's life. , send signals for the beginning of a rescue process or that the victim could be aware of a rescue process initiated, its duration and proximity of a rescue team. In addition to using a software to start a conversation with the victim of emotional and motivational type in case the device detects critical levels of vital signs or a depressive or hypoactive diagnosis in the victim's voice. Additionally, the device allows support in the rescue process, providing the rescue team with signals, data and information necessary for the location of the survivor, as well as media between the survivor and the rescuers or other survivors. In addition to the above, the present invention allows an analysis of the situation and provides a black box system, sending data and information about the environment and surrounding variables to this of the survivors or the disaster environment in general, as well as also recording of the survival scenario for subsequent or real-time analysis of the case. In accordance with the above, it is important to keep in mind that the most important and relevant features of the present invention that make it different from similar devices existing in the state of the art, correspond to the fact that it is an Intelligent Device for rescue assistance , since it allows to capture information about the victim's environment and vital signs, send it to rescuers, provide information to the victim, it serves as support for decision-making for both the rescuer and the victim, it is portable and easy to do arrive by rescuers, easy to find and carry for the victims, provides essential communication, elements and information for the victim's survival. It is also capable of storing information for analysis of the disaster environment, as well as the victim. A technical advantage is that it can become modular, an operator can make the decision to configure the functionalities offered, adding, removing or strengthening the device according to the need through modules.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGURE 1 corresponds to a top perspective view of the modular spherical device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 corresponds to a bottom perspective view of the modular spherical device of the present invention. FIGURE 3 corresponds to a rear perspective view of the modular spherical device of the present invention. FIGURE 4 corresponds to a top plan view of the modular spherical device of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 corresponds to a bottom plan view of the modular spherical device of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 corresponds to a view of the section along the plane AA of the modular spherical device of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 corresponds to a view of the section along the plane AD of the modular spherical device of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 corresponds to a view of the section through the plane AG of the spherical modular device of the present invention. FIGURE 9 corresponds to an exploded view of the elements located in the upper part of the sphere of the modular spherical device of the present invention. FIGURE 10 corresponds to an exploded view of the elements located in the lower part of the spherical modular device of the present invention. FIGURE 1 1 corresponds to a rear perspective view of the modular spherical device of the present invention, showing details of the elements that constitute it.

FIGURE 12 corresponds to a view of the plane AL of the modular spherical device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a modular spherical device for assistance in rescue of victims, characterized by comprising the following components or parts:

• A structure;

• A power and power generation system;

• A system of geo-positioning and wireless transmission of voice, video and data;

• A sensor system;

• A system of actuators; • A visual interface system;

• A control system;

• An embedded system; Y

• Elements of survival and first aid.

The main structure of the spherical modular device according to the present invention contains the different elements in a single integral unit. In accordance with the present invention, the main structure comprises a support for the different sensors and actuators, as well as survival and first aid elements such as flashlight, medications, earplugs, blade / saw, compass, a housing that can, but not They are limited to being able to withstand impacts of high altitude falls, humidity, high temperatures, underwater immersion, ice melting, and solar panels as the case of the rescue scenario. The main structure also contains other internal elements necessary for its operation. Since the device of the present invention is designed to be sent to disaster zones, a power supply system comprised of energy storage elements, and energy generating elements or devices of type is incorporated, but is not limited to , solar, kinetic, or induction energy. In addition to software whose function is, but is not limited to, monitoring the energy level and based on the status of the rescue process, it makes decisions of partial or total on or off. The wireless transmission system for voice, video, data and geolocation consists of embedded systems located inside the structure, which together with elements such as cameras, microphones and speakers allow a subject lost or in need of help in a disaster area, send and receive data and information to and from rescue teams. Such communications may include, but are not limited to, general condition of the subject, conditions of the disaster zone, first aid addresses, location of rescue teams, and other information that is relevant.

The device of the present invention also incorporates sensors to measure different data such as, but not limited to, the vital signs of the subject, environmental conditions of the environment, movements and causes of movements of the sphere and detection of the presence of subjects in need of assistance that cannot reach the sphere and are relatively close. The actuator system of the device of the present invention comprises a visual signaling module consisting of elements that emit an omnidirectionally locating light signal that helps, on the one hand, the subjects in need of help locating the device and in turn Illuminate the entire environment around them because these luminous devices are located omnidirectionally, and they can even be turned on by a voice command in case the victim cannot reach it or by team directive Rescuer remotely, and, on the other, to rescue teams to locate subjects in need of help at the time of their extraction, in this second case it may be in the spectrum of visible or infrared light, so that they can be located by drones, UAVs, robots, rescue teams in cases where care must be taken to ensure the safety of the victim, or recover the device. The infrared are also placed omnidirectionally so that their light beam is projected mostly around the environment, and can be better located by the rescue team. This same system also comprises sound signaling elements that emit an omnidirectionally audible signal and a vibrator. The sensors and actuators are controlled by software whose function is, but is not limited to, to activate the operation of all of these.

In order to effectively assist subjects in need of assistance, the device of the present invention incorporates a system of assistance that provides subjects in need of assistance with assistance tools to support rescue teams and / or to assist other subjects and need for help. It has a visual interface through a Circular Display that will give the victim indications, but is not limited to first aid information and indications, evacuation routes, meeting points, sphere operation options, times and variables environmental. Through a display, embedded systems store crisis analysis software that It allows the device to make decisions in case the victim presents weak or critical vital signs, and depressive or hypoactive pictures. They also store first aid and motivational support software, which engage in conversations with the victim in order to increase the hope and life expectancy of the victim. Embedded systems also have a storage of data and information necessary for the logs and black box records, in which the victim can make a voice, photo and video recording if desired through touch sensors or push buttons, and the sphere autonomously or requested by the rescue team may make a record of vital signs and fingerprint, environmental variables, locations and displacement of the sphere or victim, voice, photos, video.

The entire device of the present invention operates in such a way that it is remotely connected to a rescue and control terminal, to transmit data to and from the rescue units that operate within the disaster zone where the device of the present is located. invention.

Next, a description will be made of a preferred embodiment of the invention, for which we will refer to the attached figures.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the device of the present invention comprises a housing in which different elements are located corresponding to the modules and systems of the present invention. This is how we can see that the device of the present invention incorporates a flashlight (25), a compass (19), a fingerprint sensor (26), a body temperature sensor (27), several pressure sensors (53) , a heart rate sensor (21), a circular screen or display (20), one or more touch sensors or push buttons (22) and an infrared camera (24).

In Figure 2 we can see a fingerprint sensor (26), an ambient temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure sensor (29), an oxygen sensor (30), a gas and smoke sensor (31) and a sensor body temperature (27).

Figure 3 shows us where the medicines (33), earplugs (34), a cord (35) and a knife / saw (36) are located. In Figure 4 we can observe from another view the location of the circular screen (20), the heart rate sensor (21), the one or more touch sensors (22) and the cord (35). Figure 5 again offers a view of the fingerprint sensor (26), the body temperature sensor (27), the ambient temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure sensor (29), the oxygen sensor (30), the sensor of gases and smoke (31) and finally a knife / saw (36). Figure 6 corresponds to a section through the plane AA, corresponding to the horizontal plane, in which we can observe the internal distribution of some elements of the device of the present invention, such as medicaments (33), earplugs (34), the knife / saw (36) and flashlight (25); Likewise, we can observe the location of the antenna (9) of the video, voice and data transmission system, and the antenna (10) of the geo-positioning system. Figure 7 shows a section through the AD plane, corresponding to the vertical plane, where we can also observe the internal distribution of some of the elements such as the circular screen (20) and the oxygen sensor (20); Similarly, we can appreciate the location of an antenna (14). On the other hand, Figure 8 shows a section through the plane AG, corresponding to a horizontal plane in the upper half of the device, showing the arrangement of the vibration sensor (12) and the vibrator (13). Figure 9 shows an exploded view of the upper half of the device of the present invention, where we can see other elements of the system such as electronic cards (15), (16) and (17) where the embedded systems are, the vibration sensor ( 12), the vibrator (13) and another antenna (14) of the video, voice and data transmission system. On the other hand, Figure 10 presents an exploded view of the lower half where we can see the location of the fingerprint sensor (26), the body temperature sensor (27), the medications (33), the earplugs (34) , the cord (35), the battery bank (2), the electronic cards (5), (6) and (7) where there are other embedded systems, the antenna (9) of the video, voice and data transmission system, and the antenna (10) of the system of geo-positioning. Figure 1 1 shows a view of the device of the present invention with a detail of the medicaments (33), the caps (34), the cord (35) and the knife / saw (36). Finally, Figure 12 shows a section through the Al plane, corresponding to a diagonal plane, where you can see the layout of the signaling LED (42), the microphone (43), the pyrosensor (44), the ultrasound (38 ), the speaker (39) and the infrared proximity sensor (41).

The person skilled in the art will understand that it is possible to modify both the arrangement and some of the elements of the present invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

1 . A spherical rescue device characterized in that it comprises:

• A structure;

· An energy generation and storage system;

• A wireless voice, video and data transmission system;

• A sensor system;

• A system of actuators;

• A visual interface system;

· Embedded systems;

• Survival and first aid items.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure corresponds to a casing that covers and protects the other systems, modules and elements of the device.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing is of modular architecture.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure includes:

• Sensor and actuator systems; • survival and first aid items;

• covering casing on which an external cover is fitted;

• geopositioning systems and wireless voice, video and data transmission;

· visual interface module;

• embedded systems; and

• energy generation and storage system.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the survival and first aid elements consist of:

• flashlight;

• compass;

• medicines;

• knife/saw; and

· earplugs.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy generation and storage system comprises:

• battery bank;

· solar energy charging module; and

• kinetic energy generation module; • electric charging module by electromagnetic induction or wireless charging;

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the geopositioning and wireless transmission of voice, video and data system comprises:

• geopositioning module;

• RF transmission module; and

• GSM transmission module.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor system comprises:

• vital signs sensor module;

• environment variables sensor module; and

· presence detection module.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the vital signs sensor module comprises;

• body temperature sensor;

· contact/surface pressure sensor;

• pulse and heart rate sensor; and

• fingerprint sensor.

10. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the environmental variables sensor module comprises:

• ambient temperature sensor;

• humidity sensor;

• barometric pressure sensor;

• oxygen sensor;

• gas sensor;

• smoke sensor;

• vibration sensor

• light/dark sensor.

eleven . The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the omnidirectionally located presence detection module comprises:

• fingerprint sensor;

• infrared proximity sensor;

• ultrasound sensor;

• pyrosensor;

· microphone;

• infrared camera;

• gyroscopic sensor; • accelerometer sensor; and

• vibration sensor

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator system comprises:

• omnidirectional LED signaling;

• signaling with infrared LEDs;

• sound signaling module, and

• vibrator module.

either

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the visual interface system:

• circular screen or display.