TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Tainan City Government has received several AI-powered tracking kits designed to help first responders conduct search-and-rescue operations more efficiently, according to a press release.
The city said the platform combines AI, global positioning, and long-range wireless communication to track rescuers’ locations and movements in areas without conventional network coverage. The kits were donated by Taipei Medical Alliance Chair Chao Chung-chieh (趙忠傑) and BioArmor Intelligent Co. Chair Liu Chien-sheng (劉建昇).
The system uses LoRa wireless communication, a low-power, long-range technology designed to transmit data in challenging environments. The city said the technology can help maintain communication through dense terrain and other obstacles during rescue missions.
Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) thanked the donors for strengthening the city’s ability to command and coordinate rescue operations with real-time location data. He said the system could later be extended to police and other first responders.
The Tainan Fire Department said the platform uses AI edge computing to process data locally rather than relying entirely on cloud networks, reducing transmission time. The department said the equipment is waterproof and dustproof, and can operate in rough terrain under demanding conditions.
The fire department said the long-range communication system can relay rescuers’ coordinates and movements to a tablet computer in real time. The same information can also be shared with other deployed rescue teams, accelerating decision-making.
BioArmor Intelligent said it consulted the fire department to understand first responders’ needs before integrating the technologies into the system. The company said the platform would help command centers make timely decisions and improve response times.
The handover ceremony was attended by Tainan Fire Department officials and city councilors. Consultants from Semtech, which owns the rights to LoRa technology, also attended the event.
