Jul 20 2005
From The Space Library
Researchers at NASA's GRC successfully tested a new type of fire detector, which could significantly reduce false alarms in the baggage and cargo compartments of commercial aircraft. Whereas most fire detectors only detect smoke particles, the GRC-developed sensor system~called the MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)~could compare gas concentrations and smoke-particle dimensions in the environment to those commonly found in fires. The MEMS was equipped with carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide sensors, a smoke-particle detector, and integrated software, elements that, collectively, rendered it less vulnerable to false alarms than smoke-sensing detectors, which can give false alarms when sensing dust and other airborne particles. According to the FAA, the ratio of false alarms to actual fires on aircraft was around 100 to 1. (NASA, “New NASA Design Concept Smokes Out False Alarms,” news release 05-191, 20 July 2005.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
