Tech to the rescue: New products aim to improve disaster relief

Attendees at CES 2019 in Las Vegas taste water created from the air by the Watergen GEN-350 device
Attendees at CES 2019 in Las Vegas taste water created from the air by the Watergen GEN-350 device

After catastrophic wildfires in southern California late last year, the Israeli startup Watergen sent in its devices which pull clean water out of the atmosphere for firefighters and relief workers.

The machines, which have been deployed in other global disaster areas, were among the technologies on display at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show to highlight innovations which can be used in various kinds of relief efforts.

"We clean the air because it's much easier to than it is to ," said Yehuda Kaploun, president of Watergen USA, who was demonstrating the device at the annual Las Vegas extravaganza which ends Friday after showcasing futuristic innovations.

Watergen claims its technology—offered in a commercial-size Gen-350 and a consumer version known as Genny—has many applications for emergency response and helping the many millions who lack potable water.

The exhibits showcased a broad array of "tech for good" services which use robotics, drones, artificial intelligence and the like.

Robotic legs, treacherous terrain

The show's "Resilience Marketplace" included technology assisting with emergency preparedness and response, and panel discussions at the event also addressed these issues.

Watergen's GEN-350 machine, which extracts potable water from the air, is seen at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
Watergen's GEN-350 machine, which extracts potable water from the air, is seen at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

CES this year also included a conference panel on how technology can help "create more resilient communities" by tackling problems including poverty, health, education, and sustainability.

"Disaster recovery and is an area in the drone industry experiencing with a multitude of real-world applications," said Ben Marcus, chairman or AirMap, which allows operators to manage drones for emergency response.

"When used for public safety, drones are cheaper, faster, and more effective in keeping people out of harm's way."

Taiwan-based startup Uupsafety won a CES award for its technology which monitors firefighters with smart wearables that connect to command centers.

Japanese automaker Honda showed its prototype autonomous work which could be used in a variety of situations including search and rescue, firefighting and snow removal.

"We've been testing (the vehicle) in real-world scenarios to demonstrate the value and capabilities of this unique machine," said Honda executive Pete Wendt.

The Hyundai Elevate, a concept vehicle designed with articulating legs to traverse any terrain, was shown at the 2019 Consumer E
The Hyundai Elevate, a concept vehicle designed with articulating legs to traverse any terrain, was shown at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show, with potential applications for emergency response in natural or man-made disasters

Honda said it has tested the vehicle in Colorado wildfires, relieving the physical strain of firefighters carrying supplies and water, and using a mode that allowed it to autonomously follow the crews.

South Korea's Hyundai went a step further, unveiling a vehicle with robotic legs to let it walk or crawl over treacherous terrain.

Hyundai billed its Elevate as an unprecedented "Ultimate Mobility Vehicle" that combines from with robotics.

"What if a car designed with robotics could save lives in disasters?" said Hyundai executive John Suh, who heads the company's Cradle arm devoted to innovation.

The concept vehicle can drive at highway speeds with the legs retracted but if needed can climb over a 1.5-meter (five-foot) wall, in what the automaker called "a new paradigm of mobility."

© 2019 AFP

Citation: Tech to the rescue: New products aim to improve disaster relief (2019, January 11) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://techxplore.com/news/2019-01-tech-products-aim-disaster-relief.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Hyundai shows off walking car project

1 shares

Feedback to editors