Robot experts take the whisker over latest safety helmets

The specially-adapted “tactile helmet”is the work of researchers at Sheffield University.

Academics say it could provide “vital clues” about risks in life-threatening situations.

It is fitted with a number of ultrasound sensors that are used to detect the distances between the helmet and nearby walls or other obstacles.

The signals are transmitted to vibration pads that are attached to the inside of the helmet, touching the wearer’s forehead.

Professor Tony Prescott, director of the Sheffield Centre for Robotics, said the helmet was inspired by research into tactile sensing in rodents, whose whiskers give the animals early warning of potential hazards.

He added: “When a firefighter is responding to an emergency situation he will be using his eyes and ears to make sense of his environment, trying to make out objects in a smoke filled room, for example, or straining to hear sounds from people who might need rescuing,” he said.

“We found that in these circumstances it was difficult to process additional information through these senses.

“Using the sense of touch, however, we were able to deliver additional information effectively.”

Prof Prescott said it was anticipated that a lightweight version of the technology could also be useful to people with visual impairments, acting as an additional ‘sense’ to guide users or to help them avoid hazards.

He said team also found that the helmet was the ideal place to locate the vibrating pads because, although the fingertips might seem a more obvious choice, stimuli delivered to the wearer’s forehead enabled them to respond more rapidly to the signals, and would also leave their hands free for other tasks.

The helmet has been tested by staff from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue in its dedicated training facility.

The team behind the idea now hopes to find a commercial partner interested in further developing the technology.