NASA technology in the shape of a small suitcase called FINDER saved the lives of four people who were trapped in debris after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal. It detected their heartbeats and detected them. The device saved the lives of four Nepalese villager Chautara men.
The device saved two men from the collapsed textile factory and two others from another building, which had suffered severe damage in the worst earthquake to strike the country since 1934.
The 2015, Nepal earthquake also called the Gorkha earthquake killed more than 8 ,000 and left nearly 20,000. homeless. The village of Barpak in Gorkha district was the epicenter. In India, China, and Bangladesh adjacent areas were affected by the incident. FINDER is able to detect a person’s heartbeat in 20 concrete.
FINDER stands for Finding INndividuals For Disaster and Emergency Response.
It detected men’s heartbeats despite being buried under more 10 feet wood, brick, and other debris. FINDER is a joint collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena (California) and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. On 7 May, the Virginia Task Force One Training Facility was hosting the latest version.
FINDER was tested in a real-life setting. Reginald Brothers (DHS), Under Secretary for Science and Technology said that FINDER’s effectiveness in a real-world operational environment is the true test of any technology. Although we don’t want disasters, tools such as this can help us when they do.
“I am proud of the fact that we were able provide tools to rescue these four men.” Caltech, Pasadena’s California Institute of Technology, has licensed a version of FINDER for R4 Incorporated in Edgewood, Maryland. R4 sent the device to Nepal in order to assist with the relief effort following the earthquake.
David Lewis, R4 president, brought two prototypes with him to Nepal. He also joined an international search and rescue team that saved the men. James Lux, JPL’s task manager for the FINDER program, stated that it was very satisfying to see a piece we created at JPL in action in the field, helping to save lives. Rescue workers using FINDER in Nepal to find those buried beneath the rubble.
Timing is critical in disaster management. It is crucial to locate victims quickly and rescue them as soon as possible. This will increase their chances of survival. Lux stated that FINDER complements other search methods such as listening devices, cameras and canines used by first responders. It is an additional tool in search and rescue’s arsenal.
FINDER sends a microwave signal – approximately 1 /1000 per mobile phone’s output – through rubble and monitors for reflections from small motions such as heartbeats or breathing. FINDER was able to detect heartbeats in 30 feet and 20 foot of concrete during trials. A laptop and FINDER are all that is required for rescue workers to use FINDER.
The rescue worker can set the maximum and minimum ranges for the detection of heartbeats within the area. To help pinpoint the location of the victim, the program will also tell if the signal is strong from the left or right. FINDER is lighter than 20 lbs (9 kg), and can be easily transported by car or plane.
Using algorithms similar to JPL’s to detect tiny movements, FINDER can measure orbits of Jupiter and Saturn satellites or any changes to the Earth’s surface caused by low-orbit satellites. The system displays respiration, heart rate and reliability scores. The software is able to distinguish between the heartbeats of humans and animals, in addition to other mechanical devices.
NASA claims that the technology could also be used to track down individuals in natural disaster situations, such as those trapped in burning houses or in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Lux stated that he has been asked by many people for various applications. One question that was more uncommon than others was whether FINDER could find rhinoceroses in bushes to protect them. Although we haven’t tested it, in principle it should. Potential uses in medicine and robots.
The technology could also serve medical purposes. A device based upon FINDER would monitor vital signs for an individual trapped in a vehicle or quarantined with a contagious disease like Ebola. In such cases, first responders would not need to touch the person but could measure their heartbeat. NASA is hoping the next generation will combine FINDER and robotic technology to be able to reach victims closer and cover a larger area.
NASA Headquarters’ chief technologist David Miller said that NASA technology has many functions: it drives exploration, protects astronauts, and improves – or even saves – lives on Earth.
