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Facebook's latest drone delivers internet during a disaster
Internet connectivity is kind of like air: something we take for granted until we can't get it. To help make communications easier during disaster scenarios, Facebook has come up with the "Tether-antenna." At its simplest, it's a small, unmanned helicopter that can hook onto undamaged fiber-and-power lines (when cellular connectivity has been damaged or is otherwise unavailable) and then hover "a few hundred feet from the ground," according to a Facebook Developers blog post. "When completed, this technology will be able to be deployed immediately and operate for months at a time to bring back connectivity in case of an emergency -- ensuring the local community can stay connected while the in0ground connectivity is under repair."
Facebook adds ways to find and offer help through Safety Check
Facebook's Safety Check feature has proven useful as a quick and easy way for people to tell their family and friends they're safe during a crisis. But safety is one thing -- what if you still need food and shelter? Or perhaps medical supplies? That's why Facebook has introduced a new feature called Community Help. Now when you check in to say you're safe, you'll see some follow-up queries to either find help if you need it, or to give help if you have the means to do so.
GoTenna's new communicator crowd sources for a better signal
If you're a fan of exploring the great outdoors, especially in areas of devoid of cell service, you may have already sought out a GoTenna. These walkie-talkie-like enablers pair with your mobile device via Bluetooth so you can send messages and GPS data to others in the area using radio frequencies. Today the company is pushing the off-the-grid envelope even further with the introduction of GoTenna Mesh, along with a new premium subscription service and an SDK for developers to play with. The addition of mesh networking makes it one of the first devices of its kind, providing mobile (not fixed point), off-the-grid, long-range communication to users -- so long as there's a smattering of devices to help leverage its capabilities. This is also the first time GoTenna is launching its product internationally, utilizing available public radio spectrums in each area. Early birds can pick up a set starting at $129 on Kickstarter, but if you wait for the retail launch it'll run you $179 per pair.
Pee-powered socks generate emergency electricity
A team of researchers from University of the West of England in Bristol, UK want you to pee in your socks. You know, in case of an emergency. They've developed a novel power system that leverages your own liquid waste to generate electricity in an emergency. It's essentially the same process as the still suits from Dune, just with electricity instead of water filtration.
The 'world's biggest' 3D printer will build emergency houses
The design team at WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project) will unveil what is being billed as the world's largest 3D printer on Friday in Rieti, Italy. Dubbed the "Big Delta," this enormous device stands roughly 40 feet tall with a 20 foot diameter. But despite its size, the Big Delta is extremely efficient and uses only 100 watts of power. Its oversized design allows the Big Delta to quickly and easily print low-cost disaster-relief housing. What's more, it can do so using locally-sourced materials (read: dirt and mud) which also acts to minimize construction costs. The WASP team also foresees employing this printer for non-disaster-related home building. According to a company release, the Big Delta help accommodate the estimated 4 billion people worldwide that will lack adequate housing by 2030.
This origami-inspired emergency bridge accordions into shape
Eat your heart out, GI Joe Bridge Layer. A team from the Graduate School of Engineering in Hiroshima University has developed a temporary and portable bridge design that unfolds itself like an accordion across damaged or missing spans. It's being touted as the "fastest, largest, strongest and lightest" expanding bridge on Earth.
This anti-tornado sleeping bag protects you from flying debris
Rolled up, the Tuuli Armor looks like any other sleeping bag, but according to its inventor, it can safeguard you from something much harsher than insects and the cold. Apparently, the bag was designed to protect you during tornados, and while it can't exactly prevent broken bones, it can shield you from debris and shrapnel flying faster than 200 mph. That's because it was made using ballistic nylon that soldiers use on the battlefield -- its Missouri-based creator Steve Anderson even bombarded it with bits of wood, metal and glass using an air cannon to test it out.
Hail nearby medics with the GoodSAM smartphone app
In a serious medical emergency, action in the first few minutes can be key to a positive outcome. An ambulance might be only a few miles away, but what if someone with medical training, who could provide immediate care while the cavalry's on route, was sitting just next door? It's this kind of scenario a doctor with London's Air Ambulance service had in mind when he created GoodSAM, an Android and iOS app that sends out a request for any nearby professionals to lend a hand in an emergency.
Vodafone's network in a backpack connects people after natural disasters
Vodafone Foundation (the carrier's philantrophic arm) has launched a 24-pound mobile network in a backpack to help folks contact family and friends in the wake of a disaster. The device called the Instant Network Mini may be relatively small, but it provides a 2G GSM connection capable of handling thousands of text messages and five calls made at once to people within a 328-foot radius. It's equipped with a GSM base transceiver that uses satellite connection to link up to a host network. Vodafone developed the Mini as a smaller version of its 220-pound "portable" network with help from its Spanish division, Huawei and non-government org Télécoms Sans Frontières. The Foundation's been lugging the much bigger device to relief operations in the name of its Instant Network Programme. In fact, during Vodafone's mission to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, two 220-pound kits handled a total of 1.4 million text messages and 443,288 calls within 29 days. Obviously, the larger machine has a wider operating radius (3 miles), but the Mini has its own set of pros. Since it can be deployed within minutes and be carried on planes, it can potentially help more people -- and more quickly, too.
