Project Overview

Two years ago I read a report that said a fire engulfed a high-rise building and killed almost 50 people in Shanghai.

I did not expect that a 28-storey tenders a huge challenge to modern fire fighting. And that led me to undertake this project. Imagine climbing 30 storeys of stairs while wearing 30 pounds of fire gear. That's the reality for many high-rise firefighters. The A.F.A powered exoskeleton suit will give them a little help.

The exoskeleton suit will increase performance in walking, running and carrying up to 91 kg while high-rise fire frightening. The device transfers its weight, load directly to the ground, so firefighters don’t bear the weight.

Organisation

Monash University

Team

Master of Design

student: Jiazhen(Ken) CHEN
Lecturer:Mark Richardson

Project Brief

On average, 15,500 high-rise fires occur per year. It causes approx 60 people deaths, 930 injuries, and more than 200 million in property loss.(NFINFIRS, 2002)
Thousands of people could be held in a skyscraper above the reach of fire department aerial devices, once the fire is above the operational reach of aerial ladder or elevating platforms the probability of rescuing victims is almost zero.

There are two main risks. Firstly is the lead time. The level where the fire occurs has the greatest impact on lead time. On average, it took 28 minutes and 52 seconds to reach the top floor of a 48­story building. Secondly is the safety of firefighters. The risk to firefighters increase in proportion to the height of the building and the height above grade level. Once the fighters are operating above the reach of aerial devices, the only viable means of egress is the interior stairs. The heavy gear become the main cause of death among firefighters.

My research is looking at assistant equipment with new technology applying carrying capacity and personal mobility to achieve an effective fire fighting in the future 2025.

Project Innovation/Need

The A.F.A exoskeleton suit aim to increases firefighters’ performance in walking ,running and carrying while high-rise fire frightening. A.F.A can carry loads up to 91kg. The exo-suit is strapped over the firefighters’ clothing.The device transfers its weight, load directly to the ground, so firefighters don’t bear the weight.

Design Challenge

It is the first time that powered exoskeleton apply to firefighting. To develop an assisted full body exoskeleton for firefighters I need to create an industrial process. The project will begin with research into the high-rise fire and firefighter gear. Investigating the process of high-rise firefighting and fire gear.

The second stage in the process will be the brainstorming, body storming, benchmarking and user scenario. The powered exoskeleton is a near future technology. To make my design more reslistic, i did lot of researches about the mechanical, material and powerrain.

From there I continued onto research the design of powered exoskeleton associated with anatomy and arthrology alongside rapid sketching. Then I will lead to package exploration and concept development.

The final stage will lead to design refinement, CAD and a 1:3 prototype.

Sustainability

To approach a more efficient firefighting. The A.F.A exoskeleton equip "Impluse Water Gun System"(IWGS),It allows the firefighter disconnect with the hose line and action individually.

IFEX impulse gun is an exist technology which use air pressure to provide the high discharge velocity. Combine with this technlogy, the fire fighting can be more flexible, compact, and powerful.