A novel Augmented Reality application for a Mobile Renewable Trailer as an Emergency Response
Ulan Dakeev, Recayi 'Reg' Pecen, Faruk Yıldız, Ali M. Aljaroudi · 2024
The number of hurricanes and storms in the last decade have steadily increased in Texas leaving residents without water, electricity, and medical care.Electricity needed for emergency medical equipment is crucial to save victims' lives.In addition to traditional fossil fuel emergency generators, solar and wind energy based mobile renewable energy systems deployed with high quality and enhanced battery storage units improve disaster relief efforts by providing quiet, reliable, and zero-emission electricity.On the other hand, safety and emergency response operations are very important both in the industrial and disaster areas.Accidents and malfunctions in the industrial environments can cause significant economic and social impact, and an educated response to such incidents must be done immediately.However, in the case of emergency situations, not all first responders are ready to use the equipment, especially if the emergency equipment is designed for general population.The last five years have seen a tremendous increase in the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) environment.Past research proved that, in year 2018, 12.4 million VR headsets were manufactured and shipped worldwide.An important aspect of the AR tool is to assist with learning and training skills.Moreover, an AR tool is capable of providing engaged presentation and an interactive training for industrial, manufacturing, and safety equipment.The researchers developed an augmented reality application to provide an interactive learning platform for a Mobile Renewable Energy Trailer (MRRT) that was designed and built to assist during natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes etc.This study explores augmented and virtual reality applications and identifies their potential within existing emergency response technologies.This MRRT project includes design, implementation, operation and testing of a 5.5 kW mobile renewable energy system that is installed in a 20X9 feet trailer for disaster relief efforts in Texas.The MRRT contains a PV array with a rated installed power capacity of 4.4 kW, 0.3 kW wind turbine, 8x100 Ah deep-cycle battery capacity, a 2 kW additional emergency gas-generator, and an additional 3x1500 VA Back-UPS Pro Unit Uninterruptable Power System that will provide approximately a continuous peak power of 5 kW for 90 hours without any charging.The funding for project was provided by a local energy company to promote Environmental initiatives for cleaner energy efforts.The MRRT is towed behind a truck and ready to be delivered to disaster-struck regions to help with the immediate needs of residents by providing emergency power