Tadley company creates dog search and rescue device
Hampshire fire and rescue service team trial wireless system which helps dogs search disaster zones
A POTENTIALLY life-saving all-weather wireless system devised by a north Hampshire company, which enables search and rescue dog to stream live footage of a disaster zone back to its handler, has been put into action.
The camera, which has Infra Red ‘night vision', and can be attached to the head of the dog, was created by Tadley company Wood & Douglas, based in Baughurst Road, and is currently being trialled by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team.
Grant Notman, who helped develop the innovative PAWS (Portable All-terrain Wireless System) technology at Wood & Douglas, said that a car or vehicle could be kitted out as a receiver with a large monitor so the person co-ordinating the rescue could see the video come in live and see what the dog was seeing, as the dog could often get into places a person could not.
However, he said that despite the complex broadcast technology, making the product dog-friendly had been the hardest part of the product's journey.
He said: "First of all the smallest and lightest possible kind of camera had to be sourced.
"Previous cameras - suitable for human head cams - weighed too heavily on the dogs' heads, and were unworkable.
"The body harness and head strap had to be as light and unobtrusive as possible too - no mean feat when dogs come in different shapes and sizes, even within breeds.”
PAWS design also allows for the addition of extra viewing positions to help broaden the search capability, or two-way audio, allowing the handler to instruct the dog remotely, and even talk with injured parties.
Managing director at Wood & Douglas, Alan Wood, said: "While it may look unusual or raise a smile at first sight, the capability to see a dog's point of view, which PAWS introduces, makes a hazardous job safer for both handler and dog, and help save lives.
"The dogs are not put off by the technology they carry and can give their handler sight of areas that they are unable to get to themselves.”
He added: "Quite what people will think when the dog ‘talks' to them remains to be seen, but I'm sure they'll be happy to have been found."
The USAR team announced this week that the device was recently fitted to Byron (pictured) an experienced border collie and was put to the test at a simulated disaster scene at Fort Widley, near Portsmouth.
The Service's search and rescue team, including specially trained search dogs, is sent to disasters all over the world. Team members recently attended the aftermath of both the Japanese and New Zealand earthquakes.
