University research team awarded $1.5 million for first responders research

 Article was Originally written in October 2024

The National Science Foundation has awarded 1.5 million dollars to a University of North Texas research team to research communication technology to help first responders.

The technology being researched is centered around using drones to improve communication within disaster situations by setting up base stations in the air that allow for reception when there might be disruptions. The technology is for situations like natural disasters, or during a large public event like a concert. 

The interdisciplinary team researching it consists of two professors from the College of Engineering and two from the College of Business, who will support five students who will join the project. Kamesh Namuduri, the lead investigator of the project, is a long-time UNT electrical engineering professor who was previously given a smaller grant by the National Science Foundation for this project before asking for more money so he could take the project further. 

“We keep seeing it even as recently as a few days ago,”  Namaduri Said “We see Hurricane Helena going through Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. I still have some of my friends (in these states). My fellow professor was busy cleaning the mess which is his home. so that is what happens normally and that is a disaster I want to help with.”

Namuduri explained how the project will research both the social and engineering aspects of these disaster situations and how they can lead to loss of communication and efficiency within first responder groups. This research will make first responders' jobs more efficient and safer through their technology.

“What we are trying to do is airlift these base stations so that you can carry them wherever you want and fly them and fly them to the place, the remote place, even if you can not drive there on the ground, right on the ground, you can just send a drone,” Namuduri said.

Namuduri expressed that his goal is to get these stations in every fire and police station across the country. That way, every area would have access to enhanced communication even after large disasters like hurricanes and in crowded areas where electronic communications can be disrupted. 

The stations are also planned to be built to use sensors to scan for dangerous materials in the air and on the ground. The sensors are managed by Maurizio Manzo who is an electrical engineering associate professor at UNT.  Manzo is an expert in micro-optical sensors and was brought on to the project by Namuduri. He told The Daily that he ended up joining the project to help the community.

“If we streamline the operation, of rescues and we do that well, you know, we can save lives.” Manzo said. “That is because time is sensitive, right? After a big disaster timing is essential to make the rescue efficient.”

Manzo was excited to use his technology to help the community and wanted to get this technology in the hands of as many first responders as Namuduri did. 

Manzo and Namuduri explained the many different involved parties with the technology including the Denton Fire Department and Denton Police Department. The research group has met with both multiple times to discuss their needs in the technology along with when they can finish the research into it. 

Drones have been used by the Denton Police and Fire departments as far back as 2022 when they first started using drones to help with situations where sending a person would be dangerous or less efficient.