Systems, methods and apparatus for real-time, multi-location wildfire surveillance, local parameter acquisition, data transmission, and integrated situation monitoring and analysis for improved wildfire management and suppression
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable, unmanned, real-time wildfire remote fire parameter data acquisition unit (DAU), comprising:
- (a) a working head comprising a housing, a plurality of sensors, and control and communications electronics;
(b) a power source connected to the control and communication electronics;
(c) a stand including at least one leg which is used to locate the working head off the ground with a desired orientation and height;
wherein the plurality of sensors consist of at least three transducers selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one wind speed to electrical signal transducer, (2) at least one wind direction to electrical signal transducer, (3) at least one humidity to electrical signal transducer, (4) at least one air temperature to electrical signal transducer, (5) at least one surface temperature to electrical signal transducer, (6) at least one gravity direction to electrical signal transducer, (7) at least one compass direction to electrical signal transducer, (8) at least one GPS location to electrical signal transducer, (9) at least one GPS orientation to electrical signal transducer, (10) at least one level to electrical signal transducer, (12) at least one barometric pressure to electrical signal transducer, (13) at least one visible imaging to electrical signal transducer, (14) at least one IR imaging to electrical signal transducer, (15) a plurality of differently oriented non-imaging IR to electrical signal transducers, (16) at least one electrical signal to radio wave transducer, (17) at least one radio wave to electrical signal transducer, (18) at least one sound transducer, (19) at least one user input to electrical transducer, (20) at least one electrical signal to user understandable output signal (e.g. readable display signal, light signal, sound signal, tactile signal, and the like); and
(21) a power source power level sensor; and
wherein the control and communication electronics comprise circuitry to provide at least three functions selected from the group consisting of (1) sending radio signals carrying data derived from the at least three sensors, (2) receiving radio signals and modifying a behavior of the DAU according to received signals;
(3) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor to yield trend information from that sensor, (4) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the types, powers, or even electromagnetic transmit frequencies of radio signals being sent out, and (5) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the time frequency of radio signals being sent out.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the Invention provide real-time portable, deployable data acquisition units and monitoring consoles that can be used in combination with radio communication technology to provide for monitoring of wildfires and local weather conditions to aid in fighting wildfires.
25 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A portable, unmanned, real-time wildfire remote fire parameter data acquisition unit (DAU), comprising:
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(a) a working head comprising a housing, a plurality of sensors, and control and communications electronics; (b) a power source connected to the control and communication electronics; (c) a stand including at least one leg which is used to locate the working head off the ground with a desired orientation and height; wherein the plurality of sensors consist of at least three transducers selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one wind speed to electrical signal transducer, (2) at least one wind direction to electrical signal transducer, (3) at least one humidity to electrical signal transducer, (4) at least one air temperature to electrical signal transducer, (5) at least one surface temperature to electrical signal transducer, (6) at least one gravity direction to electrical signal transducer, (7) at least one compass direction to electrical signal transducer, (8) at least one GPS location to electrical signal transducer, (9) at least one GPS orientation to electrical signal transducer, (10) at least one level to electrical signal transducer, (12) at least one barometric pressure to electrical signal transducer, (13) at least one visible imaging to electrical signal transducer, (14) at least one IR imaging to electrical signal transducer, (15) a plurality of differently oriented non-imaging IR to electrical signal transducers, (16) at least one electrical signal to radio wave transducer, (17) at least one radio wave to electrical signal transducer, (18) at least one sound transducer, (19) at least one user input to electrical transducer, (20) at least one electrical signal to user understandable output signal (e.g. readable display signal, light signal, sound signal, tactile signal, and the like); and
(21) a power source power level sensor; andwherein the control and communication electronics comprise circuitry to provide at least three functions selected from the group consisting of (1) sending radio signals carrying data derived from the at least three sensors, (2) receiving radio signals and modifying a behavior of the DAU according to received signals;
(3) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor to yield trend information from that sensor, (4) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the types, powers, or even electromagnetic transmit frequencies of radio signals being sent out, and (5) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the time frequency of radio signals being sent out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable, unmanned, real-time wildfire remote fire parameter data acquisition unit (DAU), comprising:
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(a) a working head comprising a housing, and a plurality of sensors; (b) control and communication electronics; and (c) a power source connected to the sensors and control and communication electronics; wherein the plurality of sensors consist of at least three transducers selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one wind speed to electrical signal transducer, (2) at least one wind direction to electrical signal transducer, (3) at least one humidity to electrical signal transducer, (4) at least one air temperature to electrical signal transducer, (5) at least one surface temperature to electrical signal transducer, (6) at least one gravity direction to electrical signal transducer, (7) at least one compass direction to electrical signal transducer, (8) at least one GPS location to electrical signal transducer, (9) at least one GPS orientation to electrical signal transducer, (10) at least one level to electrical signal transducer, (12) at least one barometric pressure to electrical signal transducer, (13) at least one visible imaging to electrical signal transducer, (14) at least one IR imaging to electrical signal transducer, (15) a plurality of differently oriented non-imaging IR to electrical signal transducers, (16) at least one electrical signal to radio wave transducer, (17) at least one radio wave to electrical signal transducer, (18) at least one sound transducer, (19) at least one user input to electrical transducer, (20) at least one electrical signal to user understandable output signal (e.g. readable display signal, light signal, sound signal, tactile signal, and the like), and (21) a power source power level sensor; and wherein the control and communication electronics comprise circuitry to provide at least three functions selected from the group consisting of (1) sending radio signals carrying data derived from the at least three sensors, (2) receiving radio signals and modifying a behavior of the DAU according to received signals;
(3) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor to yield trend information from that sensor, (4) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the types of radio signals being sent out, and (5) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the frequency of radio signals being sent out.
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16. A system for monitoring wildfires, comprising:
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a. at least one real-time portable wildfire data acquisition unit (DAU), comprising; i. a working head comprising a housing, and a plurality of sensors; ii. control and communication electronics; and iii. a power source connected to the sensors and control and communication electronics; wherein the plurality of sensors consist of at least three transducers selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one wind speed to electrical signal transducer, (2) at least one wind direction to electrical signal transducer, (3) at least one humidity to electrical signal transducer, (4) at least one air temperature to electrical signal transducer, (5) at least one surface temperature to electrical signal transducer, (6) at least one gravity direction to electrical signal transducer, (7) at least one compass direction to electrical signal transducer, (8) at least one GPS location to electrical signal transducer, (9) at least one GPS orientation to electrical signal transducer, (10) at least one level to electrical signal transducer, (12) at least one barometric pressure to electrical signal transducer, (13) at least one visible imaging to electrical signal transducer, (14) at least one IR imaging to electrical signal transducer, (15) a plurality of differently oriented non-imaging IR to electrical signal transducers, (16) at least one electrical signal to radio wave transducer, (17) at least one radio wave to electrical signal transducer, (18) at least one sound transducer, (19) at least one user input to electrical transducer, (20) at least one electrical signal to user understandable output signal (e.g. readable display signal, light signal, sound signal, tactile signal, and the like), and (21) a power source power level sensor; and wherein the control and communication electronics comprise circuitry to provide at least three functions selected from the group consisting of (1) sending radio signals carrying data derived from the at least three sensors, (2) receiving radio signals and modifying a behavior of the DAU according to received signals;
(3) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor to yield trend information from that sensor, (4) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the types of radio signals being sent out, and (5) analyzing data obtained from at least one sensor and modifying the frequency of radio signals being sent out; andb. at least one command and control console (CCC) which provides a primary interface with a system user for monitoring wildfires, wherein information gathered by the at least one DAU is displayed on the CCC to provide a user with useful near-real time information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification