DHS SBIR Showcase for First Responders

Through the DHS SBIR Program, small business innovators are developing new technologies to keep first responders, emergency managers, and incident commanders better protected, connected, and prepared to safeguard the homeland and respond to disasters. In March 2022, the DHS SBIR Program hosted the SBIR Showcase for First Responders to highlight the work of SBIR awardees and how they are responding to first responder technology needs.

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  Cobalt Solutions: Urban Detection and Identification of Small UAV
  Drones have become an increasing threat to the public as they continue to be more common in urban environments. With a big capability shortfall of existing drone tracking technology, Cobalt Solutions is developing an easy and safe to use, affordable and accurate 5G-Based millimeter Wave Radar solution to track, detect and counter stealthy and autonomous drone threats. View the recording. 
   

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  Device Solutions: Emergency Digital Paging
  Today’s emergency paging technology limits situational awareness for emergency responders, as analog voice paging and cellular paging are unreliable, have delayed delivery, and lack secure data and interoperability with neighboring emergency services. Device Solutions is developing an Emergency Digital Paging over Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 Eco-System solution with improved coverage, reduced latency of under 10 seconds, secure encrypted data, and regional and statewide interoperability. View the recording.
   

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  Epiq Solutions: In-building Coverage Analysis System (ICAS)
  First Responders must be equipped with reliable wireless communications and wide area coverage in buildings to carry out operations. To address a current lack of reliability, interoperability and operations planning in building communications, Epiq Solutions is developing PRISM, a low-cost sensor device connected to a standard smartphone, tablet or laptop that measures in-building coverage and shares information between fire officials, building owners and public safety communications officers. View the recording. 
   

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  Mercury Systems: Remote Phone Locator for Improved Emergency Rescue (REPLIER)
  First Responders face many challenges to track cellular signals in the maritime and remote border domains for search and rescue (SAR) missions as current devices are costly and fall short on performance requirements. Mercury Systems is developing a Remote Phone Locator for Improved Emergency Rescue (REPLIER), a cost-effective, portable and lightweight solution with improved performance that facilitates quicker emergency rescue. View the recording. 
   

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  Morphix Technologies: Wearable Chemical Detector Badge
  First On-Scene Responders need suitable equipment to alert them when they are unexpectedly exposed to dangerous chemicals in the air. As current detection equipment is too complex, expensive, impractical, and has limited detection, there is a need for a low-cost, easy-to-use chemical detector that can notify first responders if any toxic chemical is in the air. To address this detection capability, Morphix Technologies is developing a low-cost, simple, lightweight Wearable Chemical Detection Badge (WCDB) for Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC) classes (oxidants, reductants, pH and poisons). View the recording. 
   

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  SecureLogix: NG9-1-1
  Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) robocall, and SWATing attacks to critical call centers are becoming more common, sophisticated, and disruptive. While these attacks pose a genuine threat to Next Generation 9-1-1, public safety and municipal organizations, current technologies do not have the ability to detect these TDoS and sophisticated attacks. Addressing this significant need, SecureLogix is developing and deploying technologies that monitor and detect voice connections and multimedia to detect spoofing, SWATing, TDoS and other malicious attacks. View the recording. 
   

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  TDA Research: Wearable Chemical Sensor Badge
  Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) are becoming an increasing threat, and current technologies available to first responders are expensive, bulky, and have limited gas detection monitors. TDA Research is developing a new wearable low-cost multi-gas detection sensor to alert first responders of the type and level of hazard, providing TIC detection times of 30-60 seconds, reducing and preventing exposure to responders, and allowing them to act quickly. View the recording. 
   

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  TDA Research: On-Body Power Module
  First responders are currently responsible for maintaining several critical on-body electronic devices independently during missions, while also carrying spare batteries and having no connection to personal area network. With a significant need for an on-body power supply that can re-charge or power devices that are connected to the network, TDA Research is developing an inexpensive, lightweight On-Body Power Module solution that is ruggedized and USB hub powered. View the recording. 
   

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  TRX Systems: In-building Coverage Analysis System (ICAS)
  The first responder community needs tools to proactively react to gaps in Radio Frequency (RF) signal coverage, but traditional signal mapping approaches are limited. Addressing this need, TRX Systems is developing an in-building coverage analysis system solution using first responder’s existing radio and smartphone which provides comprehensive RF coverage data, ease of use and flexible reporting. View the recording. 
   

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  Waverley Labs: ICAM-on-the-fly
  Identity Credentials and Access Management (ICAM) must be adapted to first responder needs to help them be more effective in missions, securely share information, validate responders from other organizations and securely maintain records. Waverley Labs is developing a RESILIENT Dynamic AccessID Network and Toolkit that modernizes access management and securely vets identity and credentials of first responders. View the recording.