Grand Challenge:
Smart Vest for Detector Dogs  Description:
The smart vest that houses computing, storage and communications resources is
the target goal. The smart vest is envisioned to be composed of a lightweight
mesh that serves as a medium for integrating electronic modules with flexible
interconnections. Requirements: Minimum payload with the maximum comfort possible
for detector dogs working in extreme heat. The vest should allow a dog handler
to have real-time optical capabilities, as well as a means for bi-directional
communications.
The following is from
events which occurred in Afghanistan and implies why we need to get a communication
vest done for the dog. If a smart vest had been in place, the separation between
man and dog may have made a difference. Recently, two of Mr. Allen's K9
teams went on a mission to check out a reported 'bomb manufacturing" compound.
They were on a mission to raid an IED-builder's compound. Team 1 entered the compound
and began to search the interior as Team 2 began to search the exterior of the
compound. Unfortunately, both teams had to enter with the wind at their backs.
Team 2's handler then began to notice a change in behavior in his K9 partner and
the K9 then started to bracket in an effort to isolate the source of the odor.
He then called the change an "alert" and yelled to the other team to freeze. At
that time, due to the wind direction, Team 2's dog, Chucky began to bracket back
towards him. Chucky's handler then stepped back and to his left side and stepped
onto a pressure plate initiating the IED. The IED was in a daisy chain configuration
and only half had exploded. The handler was evacuated to the hospital at Kandahar
Air Field unconscious. He had lost his left leg below the knee and has severe
lacerations to his right triceps area and right forearm. Initially, the doctors
were concerned that the damage to his right leg might be too extensive to repair,
and he would lose that one as well. As a result of the severe injuries received
in the explosion, it was necessary to euthanize the K9, Chucky. On another
Afghanistan mission, a handler and his assigned K9 were on a combat patrol in
southern Afghanistan with a Canadian military unit. They were working out in front
of the Canadian troops when the dog hit some odor and began to pull towards its
source. While moving forward with his K9, the handler and the Canadian troops
came under gunfire. He and the others returned fire, and a firefight ensued. When
the shooting stopped, the guys moved to where the gunfire came from and found
at least one insurgent dead. The recently deceased bad guy was wearing the dog
tags of a U.S. Army soldier who had been killed in a similar ambush yesterday.
The handler and his K9 then moved forward and completed the sweep they had started
prior to the ambush. The K9 partner indicated on the presence of what turned out
to be a very large IED. In addition to these events, we await further details
on other finds. They range from confirmed residual hits that have resulted in
the apprehension of IED facilitators, to IEDs. The number of finds thus far by
these teams in such a short period of time has saved the lives of countless Canadian
and U.S. Military personnel. To find an IED is to save the lives of at least 6
soldiers traveling in a common LAV or Hum V. To capture an IED facilitator is
to save at least 10 times that number. NAECON 2010 has the chance to help
those facing extreme dangers in their deployment as part of Operation Enduring
Freedom. Please consider this in the Grand Challenge Problem. If anyone wants
a prototype vest evaluated, please contact the NAECON website (www.naecon.org).
Description: The smart vest that houses computing, storage and communications
resources is the target goal. The smart vest is envisioned to be composed of a
lightweight mesh that serves as a medium for integrating electronic modules with
flexible interconnections. Requirements: Minimum payload with the maximum comfort
possible for detector dogs working in extreme heat. The vest should allow a dog
handler to have real-time optical capabilities, as well as a means for bi-directional
communications. |