In rescue operations, time is a crucial variable. The sooner a missing person is located the greater the likelihood of positive outcomes; locating a hiker from a greater distance allows rescuers to arrive on the scene already knowing where to look, thus speeding up rescue operations. The ARVADOS and ARVADOS2 projects, developed by SUPSI's Institute of Systems and Applied Electronics (ISEA) in collaboration with the company sureVIVE SA of Mendrisio and funded by Innosuisse, started from this basic foundation.
"ARVADOS is a device developed to facilitate search operations for missing persons under avalanches. It was initially conceived to be intended for use by hikers and to support rescuers," explains Samuel Poretti senior researcher and head of the Scientific Area of Analog and Radio Frequency Electronics, Telecom and Imaging Systems at ISEA.
"The first prototype was born from the idea of providing a more effective tool than current ARVA (Avalanche Search Apparatus) systems. We started with an initial version capable of transmitting the position of a missing person at the same frequency as classic devices and, in combination with an additional communication system, to enable transmission up to a kilometer away from under layers of snow."
To further improve the solution and ensure its long-term operation, Rega and ARS decided to take over ARVADOS from the Ticino-based company DOS Group SA. To this end, the company sureVIVE SA was founded under the umbrella of Rega's subsidiary Airmed AG. With this commitment, Rega wants to make a further contribution so that emergency services can be deployed even more reliably, easily and quickly in the future. ARVADOS2 is a further development of ARVADOS intended to serve this purpose.
"ARVADOS2 connects to a smartphone and implements several technologies. It autonomously chooses the network to connect to: it starts with the cellular connection, then scaling based on availability on another cellular connection, or specific protocols that enable long-distance, low-power transmissions. In the most extreme case of no coverage at all, the device allows point-to-point transmissions between the missing person and the rescuer or between rescuers and each other."
"We're not there yet," explains Stefano Doninelli, sureVIVE board member and chairman of the DOS Group board of directors, "but we are in an interesting phase where we have identified two promising use cases for air rescue. We are in a system testing phase for these two cases. In parallel, we are exploring a use case with ARVADOS2 to support first responders who need resilience and multiple communication channels during rescue operations."
"The search for missing persons is also based on information exchange. The smartphones we all carry in our pockets are very powerful and useful tools, but they have the limitation of connectivity. We carry a GPS, an important data processing capability, but then how can we communicate them if there is no coverage? ARVADOS goes to fill this gap"-Doninelli concludes.
The transmission capabilities even in critical conditions could lead ARVADOS2 to become an invaluable tool to support rescuers and an extra guarantee of safety for those who frequent the mountains, confronted with the meteorological imbalances generated by climate change.