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2020 CHARIoT Challenge: Advancing First Responder Communications

CHARIoT Challenge logo with tagline "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.

Final NIST PSCR CHARIoT Challenge
Final NIST PSCR CHARIoT Challenge
A video highlighting the final results and winners of the NIST PSCR CHARIoT Challenge.

Emulate Smart City Data for Disaster Scenarios Contest

Final Winners Announced!
Place/Prize Winner Amount
1st FRITES $25,000
2nd SmartIoT $12,500
Best in Class Winners
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

Final Winners Announced!
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
Best in Class Winners
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.

 


Questions?

Review the Official Rules at Challenge.gov.

Image for PSCR CHARIoT Challenge partners FirstNet, FirstNet by AT&T, MSA Safety, BlueForce, and Magic Leap
Created March 6, 2020, Updated July 13, 2022