- Author
- Public Technology
- Title
- NASA Early Warning Fire Detector Program.
- Coporate
- Public Technology, Washington, DC
- Keywords
- fire detectors | warning systems | spacecraft environments | smoke detectors | carbon monoxide | smoldering | electrical properties | costs
- Identifiers
- types of fire protection sensing devices
- Abstract
- A device was developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to detect contaminants in space cabin environments. This technology is being used to develop a small, low-cost, reliable smoke detector. The Technology Applications Team at Abt Associates, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts is coordinating the project. A solid state field effects device is coated with polymeric film which selectively absorbs gases. Particular emphasis is given to carbon monoxide, one of the earliest detectable by-products of a smouldering fire. The electrical properties of the device change as selected gases are absorbed, which, at a set threshold, can trip an alarm. The cost of the sensor at production volume is estimated to be less than ten dollars.