The Survivair Pathfinder, utilizing Pulse ultrasound technology,
consists of an omni-directional transmitter (the Beacon) and
a narrowly focused receiver (the Tracker). On a Survivair Panther®,
there are two Beacons built into the SCBA—one attached
to the COMPASS™ integrated PASS device on the user’s
front, and one attached to the back side of the backpack (either
with or without an activated DoublePASS™ remote alarm
module for COMPASS). The Beacon is the target sensed by the
Tracker which indicates the direction and location of the downed
firefighter wearing the Panther SCBA. If the firefighter is
motionless and the Survivair COMPASS goes into alarm mode,
the Panther Beacons are activated (they can also be manually
activated).
By having two Beacons—one on the front and one on the
back—an ultrasonic signal will have a clear transmission
path, no matter which way a firefighter has fallen. Readouts
on the Tracker show the strength of the firefighter’s
signal, indicating whether the firefighter is near or far,
behind an obstruction, or accessible along a particular path,
regardless of the smoke concentration. By scanning an area
with the Tracker and then by moving in the direction of the
strongest signal, the firefighter can be located.
