05-10-2011

• Live video from dog to handler
• Extends search & rescue into difficult terrains
• Helps protect handler and dog
  

The image of a St Bernard digging an avalanche victim out of the snow gets a hi-tech makeover with the launch of Wood & Douglas’ Portable All-terrain Wireless System, or P.A.W.S. This long-range live video and audio link has been designed to be worn by search & rescue trained dogs.

 Getting a person and video camera into inhospitable locations such as disaster zones, or areas of conflict can be difficult. Despite looking like a Hollywood sci-fi creation, with its head mounted video camera and ear muffs, P.A.W.S lets a rescue dog search without any discomfort, beaming crystal clear video images back to its handler.

 With a camera that supports low light, high resolution and Infra Red ‘night vision’ options the dog mounted video system can be used for search & rescue, military operations support, explosives and drugs detection.

 Alan Wood, Managing Director, Wood & Douglas, says, “While it may look unusual or raise a smile at first sight, the capability to see a dog’s point of view, which P.A.W.S introduces, makes a hazardous job safer for both handler and dog, and help save lives.  The dogs are not put off by the technology they carry and can give their handler sight of areas that they are unable to get to themselves.”

 Wood & Douglas is a specialist wireless communications company and Wood continued: “Combining rugged physical product, with proven robust radio technology is what we do best, though designing for canine operatives has been a unique experience even by our standards.”

P.A.W.S. is easily adjustable and can be adapted to be worn by different dogs, delivering a video feed in real time to either a static desktop or to a wearable receiver with a hands-free or head-mounted monitor screen used by the handler. The receiver can also provide Wi-Fi rebroadcast to a handheld device, such as a phone or tablet.

P.A.W.S design also allows for the addition of extra viewing positions from a single video feed to help broaden the search capability, or two-way audio, allowing the handler to instruct the dog remotely, and even talk with injured parties.

  “Quite what people will think when the dog ‘talks’ to them remains to be seen, but I’m sure they’ll be happy to have been found,” adds Wood.