System Prototype

The prototype is now complete.

Features
Map of a subsection of Armstrong-Siddeley building
Virtual models of:
- Heat sensors
- Guidance lights
- Fires

Usefulness
The prototype can be used:
a) as a visual demonstration of how the system would work
b) as a starting point for a full system. Although the sensors and lights are modelled virtually, they could easily be replaced with real sensors; the system polls the sensors repetitively (asking for a temperature) at a certain interval.

Screenshots

Before a fireDuring a fire; the fire is represented by a red circle. Exits are represented by the larger green circles whilst the pairs of smaller green circles move towards the exits.

Try it
The prototype relies on python with pygame. To try it, extract and run 'main.py' in python.
prototype.zip

Poster Design

Created in Inkscape -- feel free to suggest/make changes. Text/icons by Vijay.

Lights

The lights that are going to be used are coloured red and green, where red means stop and green means go. For example if the Heat Sensor picked up a fire emerging by the stairs, the light next to it would turn red and so that the people escaping know not to go that way. The other lights placed around the building where it is safe would turn green to show the way to the nearest and safest exit. Blind people will have to listen out for the Broadband Sound to guide them out of the building, or have their helper with them. They also have the ability to turn white and act as normal lights, and be neutral in the Fire Escape System.

The red and green stop/go standards won't be confused because it's a nationwide understanding that red equals danger and green generally means safety. It won't work in some other countries because the colours have different meanings to the people there (for example in China, red is considered lucky)

Metacafe Video showing examples of the lights: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/331704/led_strip_lights/

The lights are made of LED strips and they contain lots of mini-bulbs in them. They are quite cheap, sturdy and are easily replaced if broken.

Specifications:

- Colours: Red, Green and White (can turn into other colours but not needed)
- Size: 18x11mm wide, 72 LED's in a Metre strip
- Power Consumption: 4.3W
- Viewing Angle: 120 Degrees
- Light Intensity: 130 Lumens
- Volt Usage: 12VDC

(Order in bulk to cover the whole building)

The lights are placed near where the rest of the system's components are placed so that it can all work together. For example the Broadband Sound and the Sensors will be placed on the walls, so the lights must be wired to these and the server room so that when sensors detect a fire they will change colour accordingly. They must also be placed high up so they can be noticed by everyone when they are escaping the building.

System Integration

FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM

The fire detection system is a PC based graphical facilities monitoring system.
The system employs an advanced technology network to monitor and control various fire alarms, sensors, card access and other facility information over a network.



research was carried out by Vijay and Steven

The system includes an interface to card access systems for Access Control System monitoring.
The system provides E-Mail functions capability to send system information via an email server to an email account.

The network will interface and report the individually monitored system’s status via a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) based software workstation
The GUI based software must be capable of graphically representing each facility being monitored with floor plans and icons depicting the actual locations of the various systems; and or sensors’ locations as well as view the system events in text mode.

The software shall use a 1280 pixels X 1024 pixels GUI display capable of showing a large primary floor plan display, a key map representative of a larger view of the primary display and its relationship to the facility being monitored, the current operator, number of fire, supervisory, pre-alarms, troubles, and security events within the network as well as outstanding events and acknowledged events.

The workstation software will, automatic navigation to the screen containing an icon that represents the system or sensor in the event of a fire condition. Alarm Monitoring, the system will provide for continuous monitoring of all off-normal conditions regardless of the current activity displayed on the screen.

System integration

This is all about how we can link all the parts of the project together. So far, I figured that each device would be connected to a computer or something. These computers could then send a message to the 'master' computer when it's needed.

You can find a lot of different software just from searching on Google. A lot of them are around £50, and the main things that they include is that they can monitor what other systems are doing. This means using the software the 'master computer' would be able to detect the status of all the other devices, such as heat sensors, fire alarms, etc. Once it receives a message from them saying something is wrong, it could activate the Fire Escape Guidance System.

Light Research

Here are some links I found regarding directional lights/LED Strips:

Directional Lights/LED's -

http://www.premierhazard.co.uk/

http://www.safelincs.co.uk/Emergency-Escape-Lighting/

http://www.allproducts.com/search/emergency_lights/page12/

http://safetyfirstdmk.stores.yahoo.net/safeslasfire.html

http://www.thelightsource.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?prodUID=1021250

http://www.theledlight.com/flexible-ledstrips.html

http://www.whitelightledbulb.com/White_LED_Strip_Light.htm

Low-powered wireless solutions

Solutions for passively monitoring who has entered the building:

ISO/IEC 14443/Smart cards/RFID: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_14443

Smart cards work in combination with an RFID reader, which sends out a magnetic field. This field is enough to power the embedded device in the smart card, which then pulses out its unique identification number, or any other data required.

Pros: Powered by magnetic field, needs no wired energy source. It is likely this is what is already embedded in the university identification cards.
Cons: Very short range - up to 10 cm; would require users to actively scan themselves in and out of the building, which is impractical in an emergency situation.

VeriChip (Implantable RFID): http://www.verichipcorp.com/content/company/rfidtags
Pros: Implantable into a human; users would not need to remember to bring something with them.
Cons: See 1, also human rights issues.

Wibree (Low-powered bluetooth): http://www.bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Press/SIG/NOKIAS_LOW_POWER_WIBREE_BROUGHT_INTO_BLUETOOTH_SIG.htm

Pioneered by Nokia engineers, Wibree has since been adopted into the bluetooth family. Allows short-range bluetooth communications.

Pros: Larger range would be enough to passively track movement through a door.
Cons: Requires wired power - users would need to remember to charge their device.

WiTricity (Wireless power): http://news.zdnet.co.uk/emergingtech/0,1000000183,39287474,00.htm

Demonstrated by powering a 60-watt lightbulb at a range of two metres. Devices are selected to be powered by a type of frequency pairing.

Pros: Eradicates need for wired power devices. Could be used in conjunction with Wibree.
Cons: Currently requires large attached wireless card device, much like found in a computer.

Robotics Research

I basically looked into how robots can be used to help guide people out of buildings, how much it would cost and what the robots would actually do. These are the main points from it and a couple of links.

Link 1 .pdf

Link 2 - Abstract

Notes

Most information is about using robots to find the best evacuation route, NOT about using robots to lead people to safety.

Aim of the robots is to figure out the quickest and safest way out of a building. To make sure escape routes are not blocked by debris, or other objects.

Positives

• Should be able to get people out of a building safely

Negatives

• Expensive
• Would require heat and light sensors, which can already be used in better ways for the project
• You would need some way to tell the people the safest way out after a robot has figured it out
• People wouldn't know what to do while a robot was figuring the way out
• There arn't many positives
• Problems in the building could cause the robots to stop working, like lifts do.
• Can robots go up or down stairs?
• Can robots factor in all different types of situation
  

My Research

Group Project

James
Research lights for:

• Lights (red and green)
• Take into account colour blind people (labels?)
• Floor Arrows

http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/923/shopscr6932.html

For the lights it might be a good idea to use disco lights because these can flash on and off across a decent area, and are quite bright so they can be easily seen.

Labels will be a good idea because colourblind people wont be able to see the colours of the lights as they are flashing so the label will tell them what colour it is.
http://www.text2logo.com/

Floor Arrows - http://www.officesafety.co.uk/shop/signs-and-posters/fire-safety-nite-glo/photoluminescent-floor-arrows.html
- http://www.shelftagsupply.com/floor_marking_symbols.htm