DHS Science and Technology Directorate

Wearable Alert and Monitoring System (WAMS)

Challenges for Improved Situational Awareness
The pervasive availability of Internet of Things (IoT)
devices over the next few years will enable seamless
situational awareness (SSA) for first responders operating
in dangerous environments. There are a significant number
of challenges facing the industry to achieve SSA: How do
we dynamically access IoT sensors, some of which do not
belong to first responders? How do we create an intelligent
network that can rapidly adapt to a changing environment?
How to optimize the use of limited communication and
human bandwidths? How do we prioritize network traffic
based on first responder and incident management needs?
Wearable Alert and Monitoring System: Track, WAMS Architecture
Monitor and Inform
Proof of Concept Demonstrations
The Wearable Alert and Monitoring System (WAMS) is
currently being developed by the Department of Homeland In 2016, S&T attended the Broadband Stakeholders
Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). In conference and successfully demonstrated end-to-end
partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space communication of AUDREY agents and sensor nodes. S&T
Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), S&T is successfully connected prototype communications hubs to
developing a distributed intelligent IoT communication a Band Class 14 Deployable Long-Term Evolution (LTE)
system that brings SSA to first responders. WAMS works network on location. First responders and incident
with JPL’s Assistant for Understanding Data through commanders will be able to receive actionable intelligence
Reasoning, Extraction & Synthesis (AUDREY) system, on the FirstNet network from distributed AUDREY
which uses human-like artificial intelligence to understand artificial intelligence agents that intelligently process and
the needs of first responders and incident managers. learn from large amounts of IoT sensor data and use
intelligence to the edge to efficiently share and use FirstNet
WAMS is composed of wearable devices called sensor bandwidth. Our team is currently working on the
nodes that connect to IoT sensors, as well as controller implementation of the Android controller software that can
software that works with both local and remote AUDREY work on Android phones, sensor nodes and Audrey in the
agents in the cloud to provide on demand communication cloud. A feasibility demonstration of the Android-based
and computing based on first responders’ needs. The sensor controller software was conducted during the 2017
node can connect to IoT sensors to monitor and track Broadband Stakeholders conference.
environmental and physiological factors like oxygen,
carbon monoxide, heart rate, body temperature and Partnering with Experts in the Field
respiratory rate. The controller software operates in mobile NASA’s JPL previously worked with S&T to develop the
devices and provides distributed intelligence closer to the Personal Alert and Tracking System (PATS). The PATS
end-user to enable efficient use of communication and will be used as the foundation for WAMS as it uses similar
human bandwidths. The combination of sensor nodes and sensor technology to monitor and alert responders.
controllers enable unparalleled dynamic composability of
intelligent network and sensor nodes to adapt to rapidly
changing environments. WAMS is a key element in
enabling a Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) eco-
system to discover, connect, fuse and understand different
IoT domains. It is designed to be interoperable across
different agencies.
2017- 07-06

To learn more about WAMS, contact SandTFRG@hq.dhs.gov.