(sirens wailing)
Steve: For a firefighter, even a scenario like this,
where it's a training environment,
it kind of puts a chill through your spine.
It makes your heart beat a little harder.
You can't even see the hand in front of your face.
You're completely in the blind.
Firefighter: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
-: So to have some sort of device
that can guide you to where you're going
is a huge sense of confidence for firefighters.
(dramatic music)
-: We are conducting a demonstration
of the Pointer technology.
There are systems set up outside the structure.
We detect them with mobile devices
to emulate how we might do search and rescue
in a fire safety type of application.
-: Whenever we're doing a search in a structure,
or trying to find a fire,
whether it's trying to find a fire
or trying to find victims,
you're always concerned about where you are
in the house or the building, and where your exit is,
but we try to stay oriented,
which can slow us down sometimes
trying to maintain where we are in relationship
to a hallway, a bedroom, a kitchen, to give us an idea
of where we are in the structure.
-: Using the Pointer system,
I'm watching where the firefighter is.
I'm watching the progression of my firefighters
moving into the structure, trying to find them,
and then even when they were off base,
I was able to redirect them
and point them in the right direction
to facilitate the rescue.
Firefighter: Catalina, I see you should be right next
to the downed firefighter.
Firefighter: Okay, come on.
Wendell: I could actively engage in the rescue,
provide them important information.
Firefighter: Firefighter's been located
and is being extricated.
Maintain your assignments.
-: It gave me a greater sense of ease
knowing that my crews were on their way,
and the person was being rescued.
Firefighter: Especially being able to see
what level you're on,
being able to see the difference
between first and second floor,
so you know exactly where somebody's at.
-: On the second floor, get to the Charlie Delta corner.
Narrator: JPL developed this technology,
and we're testing this technology
in order to save firefighter's lives.
-: I would like to hope in the future
that Pasadena Fire Department would utilize
this sort of technology.
I think it's amazing that we have institutions
like JPL in our back yard.
I think Pasadena should have the best toys in town.
(dramatic music)