Distributed wild fire alert system

• US 10,117,003 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyle B. Smith
• Original Assignee: Kyle B. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Kyle B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heard, Erin F
• Application Number:
  US15/483,341
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/02 for area conflagrations, e.g. forest fires, subterranean fires
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/005 for forest fires, e.g. detecting fires spread over a large or outdoors area fire fighting forest fires A62C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and managing wildfires using fixed sensors is described. The system and method deploy a plurality of fixed sensors in an area to be monitored. Each fixed sensor is operable to detect ambient conditions in the vicinity of the fixed sensor and to relay that information to a central control center. Each fixed sensor dormant until powered by heat from a detected fire allowing the fixed sensor to send data related to the ambient conditions using the transceiver before the sensor device is consumed by the fire. The system can then determine the attributes of the wildfire from the collective data from the plurality of fixed sensors and coordinate the activity of responders in response to the wildfire using the collective data.

Claims

1. A sensor device for detecting and managing wildfires, the sensor device comprising:

one or more of sensors generating sensor data by measuring conditions in the vicinity of the sensor device, the sensor data related to monitoring wildfires;

a microprocessor connected to the one or more of sensors and operable to process and store sensor data; and

a transceiver connected to and controlled by the microprocessor;

wherein the sensor device is powered by heat from a fire allowing the sensor device to send data related to the measured conditions using the transceiver before the sensor device is consumed by the fire and wherein the one or more sensors, microprocessor, and transceiver are configured to lie dormant until powered on by heat from the fire.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors include sensors for detecting smoke and measuring temperature.

3. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism to allow the sensor device to attach to a tree.

4. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein the location of the sensor device is associated with an ID (identification) of the sensor device when it is deployed.

5. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of hubs that are operable to communicate with the sensor device.

6. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of sensor devices form a mesh network to transmit data and messages.

7. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein a command center is operable to receive the collective data from a plurality of sensor devices.

8. The sensor device of claim 7 wherein the command center determines the attributes of the wildfire and coordinates the responders in response to the wildfire.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor devices are deployed by being dropped into a forest from the air.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor device is dormant until being powered up by the heat from the fire.

11. A method for detecting and managing wildfires comprising:

deploying a plurality of fixed sensors generating sensor data by measuring conditions in the vicinity of the sensor device, the sensor data related to monitoring wildfires, the plurality of fixed sensors comprising one or more sensors, a microprocessor, and a transceiver, wherein each fixed sensor is powered by heat from a fire allowing the fixed sensor device to send data related to the measured conditions using the transceiver before the sensor device is consumed by the fire, and wherein the one or more sensors, microprocessor, and transceiver are configured to lie dormant until powered on by heat from the fire;

determining attributes of the wildfire from the collective data from the plurality of fixed sensors; and

coordinating the activity of responders in response to the wildfire using the collective data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising deploying a plurality of mobile sensors with responders, each mobile sensor capable of detecting ambient conditions near the respective responder and conditions of the responder, the plurality of mobile sensors in communication with the central control center.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of fixed sensors each include a location determination circuit to determine the location of the respective sensor.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the location of each fixed sensor is associated with an ID (identification) of the fixed sensor at the time the fixed sensor is deployed.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of fixed sensors form a mesh network to transmit data and messages.

16. A system for detecting and managing wildfires comprising:

a plurality of fixed sensors generating sensor data by measuring conditions in the vicinity of the sensor device, the sensor data related to monitoring wildfires, the plurality of fixed sensors comprising one or more sensors, a microprocessor, and a transceiver, each of the plurality of fixed sensors operable to detect ambient conditions wherein each fixed sensor is powered by heat from a fire allowing the fixed sensor to send data related to the ambient conditions using the transceiver before the sensor device is consumed by the fire and to relay that information to a central control center, and wherein the one or more sensors, microprocessor, and transceiver are configured to lie dormant until powered on by heat from the fire; and

a plurality of mobile sensors, each worn by a responder and capable of detecting ambient conditions near the respective responder and conditions of the responder, the plurality of mobile sensors in communication with the central control center,

wherein the collective data from the plurality of fixed sensors and the plurality of mobile sensors can be used to determine attributes of the wildfire and to coordinate the responders in response to the wildfire.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the location of each fixed sensor is associated with an ID (identification) of the fixed sensor at the time the fixed sensor is deployed.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of hubs that are operable to communicate with the plurality of fixed sensors and the plurality of mobile sensors.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of fixed sensors and the plurality of mobile sensors form a mesh network to transmit data and messages.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising a command center operable to receive the collective data from the plurality of fixed sensors and the plurality of mobile sensors.