Sensing a safer environment

UNSW researchers have developed a new fire detection system that instantly recognises changes in Wi-Fi signals as they pass through the air. Professor Aruna Seneviratne and Dr. Deepak Mishra of the School for Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications have made a wireless sensing technology that picks up on environmental disruptions including smoke and temperature much faster than existing technology. It creates real-time alerts that have the potential to save lives and protect assets.

Dr. Deepak Mishra and Professor Aruna Seneviratne conducting a test of their technology in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Credit: Aruna Seneviratne.

“I blame all of this on Deepak,” jokes Prof. Seneviratne. ”We were having a simple chat about whether we could ‘smell’ using wireless technology and agreed that we should be able to detect different smells using a touch of artificial intelligence.”

As smell is caused by particles in the air, and these particles are affected differently when impacted by signals, both researchers were intrigued by what this might mean within the context of modern sensing technology. “We started experimenting with various things, like sending a signal, creating a signature for the medium through which it travels, and using AI at the receiving end to see whether the signature had changed,” explains Prof. Seneviratne.

While there was already plenty of literature about how receiving signals are impacted by human activity, no one had yet considered this within the context of the environment.

“What we’re doing – nobody has done this before,” adds Prof. Seneviratne. “We’re the very first group in the world.”

To test their research, Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra began conducting various experiments in the lab as well as controlled tests, including one in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. This saw them set up a series of transmitters and receivers to monitor the tunnel environment before setting a test car alight. The idea was to see whether their system could detect the fire or do better than the existing systems already in place. “If there’s a fire, the hot air rises and the density of the air changes,” explains Prof. Seneviratne. “The signal that travels through it changes as well.”

The test was a resounding success, providing both researchers with new insights and opportunities for the technology. “We were very surprised to be able to detect temperature changes to 0.5 degrees Celsius precision in a live, running tunnel,” says Dr. Mishra. “That really gave us the motivation to try out a range of different things.”

All hands on deck

Following this work, Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra applied their research to new areas including maritime environments. Cargo ships in particular need this technology as the global trade of batteries and flammable electronics are increasing fire events each month. “There’s an immediate need here as ship fires are extremely expensive if they happen, and they’re an environmental and safety hazard as well,” explains Prof. Seneviratne. “On-board cargo fires happen once per week and are the second top-cause of loss in shipping vessels.”

The duo are even working closely with global shipping insurers, Lloyds of London, who are keen to better understand how the research being conducted by Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra could assist with earlier detection of fires on cargo ships. Currently, ship fires are a significant environmental and economic issue, with figures revealing loss amounts of $150,000 for every minute there’s a fire in a ship.

While existing technology (based largely on thermal imaging) is slow reacting and doesn’t prevent large-scale damage, the technology created by Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra provides solutions to both issues.

“Existing technology requires at least 30 minutes before a fire can be detected,” adds Prof. Seneviratne. “We can detect one in less than a second.”

Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra have been invited to conduct experiments and trials onboard cargo ships and have been asked to have their tech independently evaluated. “If it proves successful, we’ll be in a position to sell the technology to shipping companies,” explains Prof. Seneviratne. With the creation of their startup company, Envision Systems, already underway, the team are in a good position to capture the market.

“It's UNSW technology being put to good use for the environment and for safety reasons, but it really will be of economic benefit to Australia as well.”

Designed and built in NSW yet deployed around the world, Envision Systems is providing new solutions for onboard fire detection that are fast and reactive. Already, Envision has been determined as one of the top 3 company disruptors out of 200 competitors due to its extremely high spectral resolution, low-cost and localisation capabilities. “Our AI-driven approach employs radio signal state disruption, and the sensitivity of these radio signals facilitates new functionality in industrial safety,” says Prof. Seneviratne. Envision has also developed a battery powered device designed for remote industrial environments. This low-cost device is equipped with a patented AI engine, developed over five years at the university.

Professor Aruna Seneviratne with the Managing Director of the Safetytech Accelerator Dr. Maurizio Pilu meeting at the UNSW Cyberphysical Systems Lab. Credit: Engineer and PhD student, Junye Li.

What’s more, Safetytech Accelerator, in collaboration with Anchor Partners, Evergreen and Ocean Network Express (ONE), in the Cargo Fire & Loss Innovation Initiative (CFLII), have announced Envision-Sys as the first technology provider to be selected for evaluation of its technology to address ‘early-stage fire detection in cargo holds of containerships’.

Dr. Deepak Mishra at the Brisbane Port in 2023. Credit: Junye Li.

Beyond the sea

Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra are also looking at the transportation, mining and defence industries. “We’ve been speaking with Sydney Trains who have tunnels and we’re working with the port in Mascot, with a company called DP World,” adds Prof. Seneviratne. “They’re very interested in our tech to detect intrusion fires and a range of other things.”

As Australia is a mining country – the opportunity for local use of the technology is significant, as is various overseas applications. “The export market is also a great opportunity as Europe, China and India all have so many tunnels and more being created every day.”

Designed and built in NSW but deployed around the world, the technology created by Prof. Seneviratne and Dr. Mishra is creating opportunities and solutions for industries facing a range of new challenges. From monitoring various outdoor environments to interior spaces closer to home, the possibilities are endless.