DHS S&T Introduces Groundbreaking Fire Safety Tech for Real-World Testing
Fire departments across the nation can apply in July to test an innovative helmet-mounted device designed to protect firefighters and save lives.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced the availability of a cutting-edge fire safety tool for testing by interested fire departments. This helmet-mounted, indoor visualization and navigation device, known as C-THRU, allows first responders to see through dense smoke. Developed by Austin-based startup Qwake Technologies, C-THRU aims to enhance situational awareness, expedite firefighting operations, and reduce exposure to harmful environments. With a $4.7 million funding award from S&T, 400 C-THRU devices will be produced for standardized testing in diverse firefighting environments, with applications due by July 31, 2024. Data from these tests will guide product refinement for its commercial launch.
Firefighters often navigate unfamiliar, hazardous conditions where prolonged smoke exposure can cause disorientation, hindering their ability to find exits and rescue victims. The C-THRU device, developed under S&T’s First Responder Capability program through a 2020 contract with Qwake Technologies, addresses these challenges by improving firefighters’ operational efficiency.
“We recognize that enhanced equipment and technology are crucial for saving lives and protecting our firefighters,” said Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “By partnering with industry, S&T fosters the development of tools like C-THRU that address the specific needs of first responders using the latest technology.”
The C-THRU system is hands-free, lightweight, and balanced, featuring a high-speed thermal camera that captures the surroundings. The device’s AI-powered processor enhances vision and provides directional guidance to exits, victims, and downed firefighters, while identifying obstacles like walls and furniture. It also offers cellular connectivity, live-streaming a firefighter’s perspective to incident commanders for real-time support and post-incident analysis.
In addition to providing a clear, real-time view, C-THRU aids in navigation, offering turn-by-turn guidance for backtracking and a mayday function that alerts nearby responders if a firefighter is in distress. The system improves continually with over-the-air software updates, similar to a smartphone.
Since 2015, Qwake Technologies has developed and tested over ten prototypes, collaborating with S&T since 2020 to tackle the challenge of indoor navigation. With S&T’s funding and oversight, the device has undergone rigorous field tests, leading to this expanded phase of national testing involving 80 fire departments of various sizes and operational environments. This initiative allows departments to define their own use and training standards for the C-THRU tool.
Interested fire departments should contact NFA@qwake.tech to apply by July 31, 2024. For more details on C-THRU, read the Operational Field Assessment Report or listen to S&T’s Technologically Speaking podcast episode.
For more on S&T’s First Responder Capability program, visit here.
