alpha Personal Network

[ Telemetry: radio-based
SCBA monitoring ]

Basics and Concept

© MSA 2006
 What is a Telemetry
System?

 Telemetry: „measuring from a distance“

 Radio-based monitoring of respiratory
protection
 Purpose: real time display of current
status of equipment and user

© MSA 2005
 Advantages of a Telemetry
System over conventional tools

 Knowledge of actual status of BA and

user, no guessing
 No time-consuming update via walkie-
talkie necessary
 Alarms transmitted directly to incident
command
 Possibility to set evacuation alarm [two
way communication]
 Automated documentation [reports]

© MSA 2005
 Challenges
 Reliability of radio link
 insensitivity to interferences
good penetration of buildings
 Operation as simple as possible
 Flexible for different user
categories
 Cost-conscious design
© MSA 2005
 Components

 Electronic Control Unit on

BA set to process data,
similar to ICU

© MSA 2005
 Components

 Data Radio Transmitter that

transmits data out of the
hazardous area

© MSA 2005
 Components

 Data Radio Receiver, outside

of hazardous zone

© MSA 2005
 Components

 Input- Output Unit to

monitor and manipulate
information

© MSA 2005
 Components
MSA‘s concept:
 Transmitter integrated in alphaSCOUT
[next-generation ICU], radio module is
retrofittable
 alphaBASE [receiver] connected directly
to a standard PC
 Laptop
 Workstation
 [attached to] xploreTABLET PC
 PC Software using a graphic interface
© MSA 2005
 Functionalities
 alphaSCOUT functions :
digital display of pressure
calculation of remaining service time
motion sensor
manual alarm
 All these data are being transmitted
 Automatic log-on: turning on
cylinder valve activates system

© MSA 2005
 Functionalities
 Programmable tags to
personalize alphaSCOUT
 user‘s name
 function
 team, brigade
 all relevant data of an incident are
stored
 in each alphaSCOUT
 in database on PC

© MSA 2005
 Radio Link
 Digital Radio system
 Frequency: 866 MHz [=35cm band, license-
free, good penetration]
 Output power: 500mW
 “Listen-Before-Transmit”, automatic channel
switch:
 transmits only if channel is free
 within the band, information is sent on up to 20
channels [frequencies]
 excellent reliability of transmission, no
interference between systems

© MSA 2005
 Radio Link
 Polling interval [= longest time for
reaction]: 3,4s
 Up to 24 alphaSCOUTs on one
receiver
 Several systems can be operated
simultaneously [listen-before-talk]

© MSA 2005
 Radio Link
 Alarms will be transmitted even
without direct radio contact
 All alphaSCOUTs can work as
repeater [one hop]
 No distinct unit necessary
 Automatic
activation and routing

© MSA 2005
 PC Software
 Runs without manual operation at
incident command
 Alarms are given optically and
acoustically
 Clear display of all states
 Self-explanatory usability
 Integral part of TecBOS.solutions
software package for Public Safety
[technical services, administration,
incident command]

© MSA 2005
PC Software
 Operates on fixed
PC or mobile, on
tablet PC

xploreTABLET PC+
alphaBASE battery
powered
alphaBASE + Laptop
© MSA 2005
„Meeting Point“,
Assembly for Assignment
Log-on to teams
Setting of
evacuation
alarms

Graphic
display of all
states and
alarms

© MSA 2005
alpha Personal Network
[„Pocket-
ICU“]
 Basic Concept: no physical connection
between SCBA and alphaSCOUT
 [pocket of turnout gear]
 hooked to BA harness
 communication via short range radio
 interchangeable / exchangeable
 Enables a truly modular system of
electronics on an SCBA

© MSA 2005
 alpha Personal Network
[„Pocket-
ICU“]
 Pressure transmitter alphaMITTER
located on the back plate
 Retro-fittable
• BD96
• AirMaXX
• DM04-SL
 Battery lifetime
> 1 year

© MSA 2005
alpha Personal Network
[„Pocket-
ICU“]
Concepted, optional Modules
 Integrated Data Radio Module for
Telemetry [retrofittable]
 Head-Up-Display [„HUD“]
 External, Digital Speech Radio with data
capabilities [Tetra, Tetrapol]
 Sensors for Body Functions [biometry]
 Communication with Portable Gas
Detectors

© MSA 2005
alpha Personal Network
[„Pocket-
ICU“] Sensors for
Breathing Body
Apparatus Functions?
Portable
Gas
alphaSCOUT Detector?
alphaMITTER

Data Radio Speech

Head-Up- for Radio with
Display? Telemetry data
capabilites?
[e.g.Tetrapol]

physical short distance

future options
connection radio

© MSA 2005
alpha Personal Network
[„Pocket-
ICU“]
Short Range Radio
 Wireless USB [W-USB]
 similar to Bluetooth
 2.4 GHz
 Network capability: Personal Area
Network [PAN]
 Automatic log on of alphaMITTER to
alphaSCOUT
 Simple pairing of up to 5 more [future]
modules

© MSA 2005
alpha Personal Network
[„Pocket-
ICU“]
Advantages of Concept
 Retrofittable Modules
 Independent from respiratory protection:
 as telemetric „FireFly“ motion sensor
 as hub for telemetry
 as storage for incident record
 As a „gateway to electronics“
 every SCBA only needs the price
competitive unit alphaMITTER
 Number of alphaSCOUTs needed can be
significantly smaller
© MSA 2005
 alpha Personal Network Configurations
Personal Monitoring

BREATHING AirMaXX
AirMaXXSL-M
SL-M BD96
BD96SL-M
SL-M
APPARATUS alphaMITTER
alphaMITTER alphaMITTER*
alphaMITTER
alphaSCOUT
alphaSCOUT TM

PERSONAL
CONTROL
UNIT

alphaBASE alphaTABLET PC *
standard alphaBASE
RECEIVER
IDENTIFICATION
battery powered*
STATION Aerial
alphaTAG
Standard PC
xplore
Standard PC TABLET PC
INTERFACE TO
TAGwriter
OPERATOR

IDENTIFICATION
LEGEND TAGwriter USB ca
USB cable
short radio
short range rangelink
radio link [W-U
[W-USB]
24
long radio
long range rangelink
radio
alphaTAG © MSA 2005
* components available in Q2 20
 alpha Personal Network Configurations
including telemetry

BREATHING AirMaXX
AirMaXXSL-M
SL-M BD96
BD96SL-M
SL-M
APPARATUS alphaMITTER
alphaMITTER alphaMITTER*
alphaMITTER
alphaSCOUT TM

PERSONAL
CONTROL
UNIT

alphaBASE alphaBASE
alphaBASE alphaBASEPC *
alphaTABLET
standard standard
RECEIVER battery powered* [battery powered]
STATION Aerial

xplore
Standard PC TABLET PC
INTERFACE TO Standard PC
OPERATOR xplore
TABLET PC

IDENTIFICATION TAGwriter USB ca

USB cable
short radio
short range rangelink
radio link [W-U
[W-USB]
25
long radio
long range rangelink
radio
alphaTAG © MSA 2005
* components available in Q2 20
Operating Modes of
alphaSCOUT TM
 Mode is started by an alphaTAGs that is
programmed accordingly
 Repeater mode
 alphaSCOUT serves as independent repeater
 No motion alarm is triggered
 Indication of signal loss for easy positioning
 Display: “rep”
 Beeper mode
 notifies in case there is an alarm in the system
 Typically used by person in charge for monitoring or
by commander
 Display: “BEEP”

© MSA 2005
Operating Modes of
alphaSCOUT TM
 Companion mode
 alphaSCOUT acts as a telemetric motion alarm
 Application: inspections without respiratory protection
 Display: “Co”
 Base Station assignment
 alphaSCOUT logs onto preferred alphaBASE
 Useful in incidents with several segments and
monitoring centres
 Hibernation mode
 Saves battery
 Wake-up by pushing any button

© MSA 2005
 Summary
 Powerful and reliable
 Listen-Before-Talk, automatic channel switch
 Repeater functionality
 User friendly
 Automatic logon
 Automatic documentation
 Various operation modes [repeater, beeper,
companion etc.]
 Cost effective
 Integrated data radio
 “Pocket-ICU” concept of modular network

© MSA 2005
alpha Personal Network

Trend Setting Technology

for maXXimum Safety!

© MSA 2005