TUNNEL RESCUE VEHICLES

Muller Technologie has presented two new re and rescue vehicles specially designed for tunnel rescue to the Rhaetian Railway for use in the Vereina tunnel in eastern Switzerland. A vehicle will be stationed at each end of the tunnel, with the Klosters-Serneus and Zernez re brigade bases alerted to go to the portal stations in the event of an incident.

Both vehicles have a low-bed wagon with an identical driver’s cab at both ends, and has a 25,000 litre temperaturecontrolled water tank and storage space for all necessary re ghting equipment.

e vehicles can carry up to 12 re ghters with BA and PPE in the crew room, with space for four more team members in the cabs, and can each carry up to 100 people out of a danger zone.

AI-ASSISTED HELMETS

Researchers in Scotland have developed a helmet that uses arti cial intelligence to help re ghters nd and rescue people more quickly in challenging conditions. A team from the newly-opened National Robotarium in Edinburgh designed the device using sensors, thermal cameras and radar technology, with operational tests carried out in collaboration with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at their training facility in Newbridge, Edinburgh.

It is hoped the technology could support re ghters and scene commanders to safely navigate dangerous conditions such as smoke- lled areas, using real-time technology mounted on a 1kg device that ts on standard re ghting helmets.

Dr Chris Lu, Lecturer in Cyber-Physical Systems in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, who is leading the project, said: “Fire ghters o en operate in environments with very low or no visibility due to the vast amount of smoke released from a re. is can make detecting the location of potential victims and the whereabouts of re ghters very challenging in situations that are o en extremely time-sensitive. is new technology has the potential to support on-theground re ghters and scene commanders to make crucial in-the-moment decisions that can enhance search rescue e ciency, ensure safer collaboration between teammates and, most importantly, improve outcomes for potential victims of re scenes.”

Tiny Rescue Vehicle

Opel has created a new one-o rescue vehicle for a re and emergency services department in Germany.

e special version of the Rocks-e heavy quadricycle, which measures just 95 inches long and 55 inches wide, and has a turning radius of just 7.2metres, was presented to the re brigade eet at the Russelsheim plant near Mainz.

e electric vehicle is intended for use as a highly-manoeuvrable piece of equipment designed to reach and bring re ghters swi ly to every corner of the Russelheim facilities, and has a tiny 8hp electric motor and 5.5kWh battery.

It has a top speed of 45km/h, and can cover 75km on one charge.