The Wearable Alert and Monitoring System (WAMS) is being developed by the Department of Homeland Security to provide first responders with improved situational awareness using Internet of Things sensors. WAMS uses wearable sensor nodes and controller software to monitor environmental and physiological sensors, along with artificial intelligence to analyze and prioritize sensor data based on first responder needs. Initial demonstrations have shown the ability to connect prototype communications hubs and sensor nodes to emergency networks. WAMS aims to enable an intelligent network that can dynamically access sensors and adapt to changing environments.
The Wearable Alert and Monitoring System (WAMS) is being developed by the Department of Homeland Security to provide first responders with improved situational awareness using Internet of Things sensors. WAMS uses wearable sensor nodes and controller software to monitor environmental and physiological sensors, along with artificial intelligence to analyze and prioritize sensor data based on first responder needs. Initial demonstrations have shown the ability to connect prototype communications hubs and sensor nodes to emergency networks. WAMS aims to enable an intelligent network that can dynamically access sensors and adapt to changing environments.
The Wearable Alert and Monitoring System (WAMS) is being developed by the Department of Homeland Security to provide first responders with improved situational awareness using Internet of Things sensors. WAMS uses wearable sensor nodes and controller software to monitor environmental and physiological sensors, along with artificial intelligence to analyze and prioritize sensor data based on first responder needs. Initial demonstrations have shown the ability to connect prototype communications hubs and sensor nodes to emergency networks. WAMS aims to enable an intelligent network that can dynamically access sensors and adapt to changing environments.
Challenges for Improved Situational Awareness The pervasive availability of Internet of Things (IoT) devices over the next few years will enable seamless situational awareness (SSA) for first responders operating in dangerous environments. There are a significant number of challenges facing the industry to achieve SSA: How do we dynamically access IoT sensors, some of which do not belong to first responders? How do we create an intelligent network that can rapidly adapt to a changing environment? How to optimize the use of limited communication and human bandwidths? How do we prioritize network traffic based on first responder and incident management needs? Wearable Alert and Monitoring System: Track, WAMS Architecture Monitor and Inform Proof of Concept Demonstrations The Wearable Alert and Monitoring System (WAMS) is currently being developed by the Department of Homeland In 2016, S&T attended the Broadband Stakeholders Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). In conference and successfully demonstrated end-to-end partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space communication of AUDREY agents and sensor nodes. S&T Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), S&T is successfully connected prototype communications hubs to developing a distributed intelligent IoT communication a Band Class 14 Deployable Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system that brings SSA to first responders. WAMS works network on location. First responders and incident with JPL’s Assistant for Understanding Data through commanders will be able to receive actionable intelligence Reasoning, Extraction & Synthesis (AUDREY) system, on the FirstNet network from distributed AUDREY which uses human-like artificial intelligence to understand artificial intelligence agents that intelligently process and the needs of first responders and incident managers. learn from large amounts of IoT sensor data and use intelligence to the edge to efficiently share and use FirstNet WAMS is composed of wearable devices called sensor bandwidth. Our team is currently working on the nodes that connect to IoT sensors, as well as controller implementation of the Android controller software that can software that works with both local and remote AUDREY work on Android phones, sensor nodes and Audrey in the agents in the cloud to provide on demand communication cloud. A feasibility demonstration of the Android-based and computing based on first responders’ needs. The sensor controller software was conducted during the 2017 node can connect to IoT sensors to monitor and track Broadband Stakeholders conference. environmental and physiological factors like oxygen, carbon monoxide, heart rate, body temperature and Partnering with Experts in the Field respiratory rate. The controller software operates in mobile NASA’s JPL previously worked with S&T to develop the devices and provides distributed intelligence closer to the Personal Alert and Tracking System (PATS). The PATS end-user to enable efficient use of communication and will be used as the foundation for WAMS as it uses similar human bandwidths. The combination of sensor nodes and sensor technology to monitor and alert responders. controllers enable unparalleled dynamic composability of intelligent network and sensor nodes to adapt to rapidly changing environments. WAMS is a key element in enabling a Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) eco- system to discover, connect, fuse and understand different IoT domains. It is designed to be interoperable across different agencies. 2017- 07-06
To learn more about WAMS, contact SandTFRG@hq.dhs.gov.