The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now offering a cutting-edge helmet-mounted visualization and navigation device called C-THRU to fire departments across the country. Developed in collaboration with Austin, Texas startup Qwake Technologies, this technology uses a high-speed thermal camera to capture surroundings and provide real-time views of the environment for firefighters.
The C-THRU device is designed to be lightweight, hands-free, and offers navigation features that include turn-by-turn guidance for backtracking. In case a firefighter becomes lost in a burning building, a mayday function can be activated to alert other C-THRU wearers in the vicinity to find the distressed first responder. There are currently 400 prototype devices available for fire departments to apply for through the DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate.
Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, stated that improved equipment and technology for first responders can help save lives and protect firefighters. By collaborating with industry partners like Qwake Technologies, the Science and Technology Directorate aims to address challenges faced by first responders and meet their most urgent needs using emerging technology.
With its ability to continuously improve through over-the-air software updates, similar to a smartphone, the C-THRU device offers a valuable tool for firefighters to navigate and access critical information in challenging environments. With this technology at their disposal, first responders will have an enhanced safety and efficiency on the job site.
