IU launches tech challenge to help first responders
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Indiana University has launched a competition designed to help first responders. The university says the First Responder Smart Tracking Challenge will feature teams competing to develop the best technology to locate first responders inside structures.
IU says the lack of options to track each other inside structures is a major obstacle for first responders. Set to begin in November, the competition will feature businesses, companies and students forming teams continuing through phases until the winning concepts are selected.
“We are increasingly seeing new Internet of Things and tracking technologies emerging on the market and maturing in research labs around the world. Our goal is to create an environment to accelerate innovations that revolutionize location tracking indoors,” said Sonny Kirkley, FRST project director. “Over the next two years, we’ll provide education, training and mentoring programs, along with prize funds, to help teams move from initial concept to mature prototypes.”
The first phase of the challenge will see teams submitting white papers describing their proposed technology solution, as well as their team qualifications and their public safety partnership. IU says all teams will advance to the second phase.
The competition is being led by the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab in IU’s Pervasive Technology Institute. It is being funded by an $8 million cooperative agreement from the Public Safety Communications Research Division and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
You can learn more about the competition by clicking here.