Department of Homeland Security
VIP Visit

On June 3, 2005, DART held an Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) technology demonstration for a Department of Homeland Security VIP visit. Among the DHS VIP’s, was Dr. Charles McQueary, the Under Secretary for Science & Technology; Vic Tambone, the Chief of Staff for Science & Technology; Nancy Suski, the Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response; Peter Miller, Program Manager for Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) and Kirk Evans, Program Manager for Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA).

The purpose of the visit was to showcase the potential use of the DART facility as a technology test-bed facility, while also demonstrating the capabilities of various technologies capable of US&R, emergency response and recovery, and other first responder assistance.

The following technologies were demonstrated:

• NASA Ames’ Health Monitor, which monitors the vital signs of the responders, as well as victims.
• A NASA Ames Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which showcased a static display for potential take-off and landing techniques.
• The NASA Ames robotics department demonstrated the robotics capabilities in and around the DART robot agility course.
• Another NASA Ames technology, demonstrated a computerized application, displaying shore dimensions via a Portable Display Assistant (PDA) using a Portable Virtual Environment (PVE) program.
• Lawrence Livermore Laboratory’s Micropower-impulse radar (MIR) demonstrated the ability to detect motion and breathing signs through walls and/or concrete.
• Tri-Sentinel, Inc. demonstrated a responder tracking system, which tracks responders in and around a collapsed structure environment.

DART has been working with this group of technologists to develop and evaluate technologies with potential for improving emergency response using realistic simulated emergency environments and providing the technologists with real-world design requirements while simultaneously teaching emergency responders how to utilize new technologies. The goal is to accelerate the research, development, and training processes leading to rapid deployment and effective utilization of high payoff technologies for use in responding to disasters.

Only in the last few years has DART tapped into the technologies and capabilities of our own Center and leveraging NASA mission-focused activities toward dual-use in emergency response. This has further spawned into collaborations with other federal laboratories, universities, and commercial industry.

Also, in supporting NASA’s obligations under the National Response Plan (NRP) Emergency Support Function #9 – Urban Search and Rescue, Ames’ Emergency Services organization has developed a Technology Support Team element within its Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART).

Click on a picture below to see an enlarged view.