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2020 CHARIoT Challenge: Advancing First Responder Communications
The CHARIoT Challenge, hosted by PSCR and its challenge partners, invited innovators to build augmented reality (AR) interfaces or Internet of Things (IoT) data emulators by participating in a multi-phase contest. The Challenge was composed of two multi-phase contests: Build Augmented Reality Interfaces for First Responder and Emulate Smart City Data for Disaster Scenarios.
Emulate Smart City Data for Disaster Scenarios Contest
| Place/Prize | Winner | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | FRITES | $25,000 |
| 2nd | SmartIoT | $12,500 |
| Category | Winner | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Most Flexible Design for Public Safety Use Case and Research | SmartIoT | $4,500 |
| Most Creative Sensor Utilization for Smart Cities Data | FRITES | $4,000 |
Build Augmented Reality Interfaces for First Responders Contest
| Place/Prize | Winner | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1st - Tied | JANUS Research Group | $25,000 |
| 1st - Tied | North Star Simulations | $25,000 |
| 3rd | BadVR | $15,000 |
| 4th | ARCortex | $10,000 |
| 5th | NextGen Interactions | $7,500 |
| Category | Winner | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Top Incident Command Interface – Active Shooter Scenario | North Star Simulations | $2,500 |
| Top First Responder Interface – Active Shooter Scenario | North Star Simulations | $2,500 |
| Top Incident Command Interface – Flood Scenario | JANUS Research Group | $2,500 |
| Top First Responder Interface – Flood Scenario | BadVR | $2,500 |
| Top Incident Command Interface – Mass Transit Accident Scenario | ERIS/ARCortex | $2,500 |
| Top First Responder Interface – Mass Transit Accident Scenario | JANUS Research Group | $2,500 |
| Top Incident Command Interface – Wildfire Scenario | JANUS Research Group | $2,500 |
| Top First Responder Interface – Wildfire Scenario | JANUS Research Group | $2,500 |
| Most Creative Method of Interaction with AR prototype – Eye Tracking/Eye Gaze | Screen Door Laboratories | $5,000 |
| Most Creative Method of Interaction with AR prototype – Hand Gesture | Reality Garage | $5,000 |
| Best Demonstration of Public Safety Use Case | NextGen Interactions | $4,000 |
| Continued Technical Assistance Award | JANUS Research Group | $10,000 |
Challenge Purpose
The contests called upon startups, developers, data gurus, engineers, and user experience experts to develop solutions that can identify and transmit scenario-accurate city and personal network data streams or deliver first responders actionable and intuitive augmented reality interfaces.
Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services crews cannot respond efficiently without proper situational awareness. Up to now, they’ve relied on eyewitness, radio and traditional communications channels for information. But IoT devices, smart buildings and smart cities also have the potential to provide tremendous amounts of information that remain largely inaccessible by first responders and incident command officers.
Through the CHARIoT Challenge, the AR and IoT contestants demonstrated and integrated IoT data streams into actionable AR solutions that together will help public safety communicate and respond more efficiently. By empowering America’s first responders with the leading-edge technology, together, we can save lives.
