Lego Guards

Six children in Auburn, California came up with an idea for detecting and reporting wildfires. It is one of those relatively simple, why-didn’t-I-think-of-that concepts, but it uses advanced technology. It all started as a First Lego League project, which is a global program created to get children, ages 9 to 14, excited about science and technology.

Here is how the kids explain it on their web site:

Our innovative solution would use computers and people all over the world to watch forests. The system would employ solar powered cameras mounted on poles situated throughout the forest. The video cameras would be continuously panning and would be linked by ethernet radios to a hub (one of the fire watchtowers).

The hub computer would then take the snapshots from the cameras ( a “live” feed) and store them in a web server on the internet. A free “Forest Guard” screen saver would be offered to anyone to put on their computer to show these forest photos.

As people enjoy the photos, they could also be the “eyes” to keep a look out for fires. Our research shows that nothing spots smoke better than a human. If you spot smoke, you press a key on your keyboard and Forest Guard would notify the right people (like the local fire fighters station).

Sony Europe, a sponsor of the First Lego League, became interested in the project and followed the team as they won an international competition in Copenhagen last May. Then the company provided an engineering team to help make the idea into a working prototype.

The first camera was installed in the Tahoe National Forest this winter.

The team takes its first look at the Forest Guard camera.

Sony Europe has made a documentary about the project. Here is a trailer.

There will be a free screening of the documentary on March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Placer High School Auditorium, at 123 Agard Street, Auburn, California (map).