DARPA Demonstrates New Fire-Suppression Method

A new video posted on YouTube and a Jan. 19 news release are DARPA's announcement of a new way to fight fires in confined spaces, such as aboard ships or inside airplane cockpits.

The method tested by a DARPA research team at Harvard University running the Instant Fire Suppression program, which ended recently, involves destabilizing flame plasma by using electromagnetic fields and acoustics techniques -– employing physics rather than combustion chemistry, according to the description of the program available on DARPA's website. This worked on small flames but has not yet been shown to work on large ones, said Matthew Goodman, the DARPA program manager. "We successfully suppressed small flames and limited re-ignition of those flames, as well as exhibited the ability to bend flames," he said in the news release. "These effects, to date are very local -- scaling is a challenge that remains to be overcome."

The video shows how using a hand-held electrode can suppress small methane flames. Unlike traditional suppression methods using water, carbon dioxide, or chemical suppressants, this method would cause no collateral damage and could work in confined spaces or behind obstacles, according to the agency.

Featured

  • A Break from Routine

    It was three years ago right about now that COVID was bringing the world to its knees. In mid-March of 2020, the president put travel restrictions on all flights in and out of Europe, the NBA suspended its season, and Tom Hanks announced that he’d tested positive for the disease—all in the same night. It was officially a national emergency two days later. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Live From ISC West 2023 Preview

    ISC West 2023 is right around the corner! This year’s trade show is scheduled from March 28–31 at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Campus Security & Life Safety and Security Today staff will be on hand to provide live updates about the security industry’s latest innovations, trends, and products. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Until We Meet Again

    A short three years ago we were all pondering whether to attend any tradeshows all thanks to COVID-19. Sorry to bring that nightmare up again, but it seems that little pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, and it’s time to meet again. Read Now

    • ISC West
  • Cyber Hygiene: What it Looks Like for IoT Devices

    Cyber Hygiene: What it Looks Like for IoT Devices

    For our second pillar about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Pillars of Security, we are going to discuss what cyber hygiene looks like for IoT devices. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • ABLOY IP54-rated Integrated Dust Cover

    ABLOY IP54-rated Integrated Dust Cover

    One of the things that keep security managers on high alert is the real possibility the security locks used to safeguard their properties may unexpectedly fail due to environmental conditions. 3

  • ComNet NW1 Gen 4

    ComNet NW1 Gen 4

    ComNet, Communication Networks, is announcing the introduction of its Generation 4 line of NetWave® wireless products that offer greater performance and increased stability in applications where throughput and increased bandwidth is increasingly important. 3

  • BIO-key MobileAuth

    BIO-key MobileAuth

    BIO-key International has introduced its new mobile app, BIO-key MobileAuth™ with PalmPositive™ the latest among over sixteen strong authentication factors available for BIO-key's PortalGuard® Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) platform. 3