The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division launched a new prize challenge March 18. The Haptic Interfaces for Public Safety Challenge will award up to $425,000 to winning teams that create haptic interface prototypes that could improve public-safety operations.

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The public-safety community needs access to critical information such as indoor maps, location and routing, all presented in an intuitive, safe and noninvasive manner during emergency and training scenarios. A haptic interface integrated into a first responder’s personal protective equipment (PPE) could assist the user in performing tasks such as monitoring patient vitals, navigating complex spaces with limited visibility or maintaining situational awareness.

This challenge consists of multiple phases with contestants developing three haptic interface prototypes for use in PSCR-provided virtual scenarios and a final haptic interface prototype embedded in firefighter PPE for testing at a real-world firefighter navigation course. PSCR will assess the efficiency, effectiveness and level of user satisfaction of the haptic interface prototypes and their ability to assist first responders in conducting their tasks. Contestants will also have the opportunity to demo their initial prototypes with first responders at PSCR’s 2019 Stakeholder meeting in Chicago.

For more information, visit this site. All interested contestants must submit a concept paper by April 22.

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