CSEM, Partners Create Evacuation Management System

CSEM and 16 partners in the EU-funded LYNCEUS2MARKET project have developed a low-cost evacuation management system that will transform the safety of large passenger ships. The system uses CSEM’s ultra-low power wireless “icycom” technology for passenger localization. This data enables immediate response and action from the crew and real-time situation assessment by officers during an evacuation.

The system represents a breakthrough in device integration, enabling a number of leading-edge technologies to work together on a massive scale. These innovations include smart gateways that establish an onboard wireless localization network and smart life jackets, bracelets and cabin key cards with low-power embedded electronic tags. Together, these allow the position of individuals on board to be displayed and tracked with precision as dots on a screen. Thanks to its overboard subsystem, LYNCEUS is also able to spot and identify anyone who has fallen into the sea using a UAV.

The comprehensive system also includes hand-held devices for identifying and counting passengers during evacuations, decision-support software with real-time visualization and signal detectors to quickly find people in the water. A large-scale test last year on board a cruise ship, carried out by the crew and involving over 1000 devices, proved the technology’s potential and elicited very positive feedback from all on board. Following a final demonstration in Greece in November 2018, the LYNCEUS system will be ready for commercialization and deployment on ships worldwide.