Robust Emergency Location Indicator Carry-on​ (RELIC) Beacon

The RELIC Beacon is a disaster management device, targeted towards residents of disaster prone countries, to improve communication to local disaster response organizations and aid rescue efforts during disasters.

On December 22, 2018, a tsunami struck western Java and Southern Sumatra island, caused by undersea landslides following an eruption from Anak Krakatoa Volcano. Humanitarian aid organisation, World Vision assisted children and families in some of the most affected areas. Despite the help provided, over 400 people were reported dead on December 26, 2018. The natural disaster has had a significant impact on many people’s lives and many will need help for years in rebuilding their homes and communities.

During disasters, such as tsunamis or earthquakes, major destruction to the infrastructure may occur. Communication towers may be destroyed, victims may be trapped under rubble, victims may be lost in the darkness. This severely limits the communication between the victims and the rescue team as the victims may not be able to directly communicate with them or to send out alerts on their location. Rescuers will also have difficulty locating and rescuing the victims with the limited information that they possess. This will greatly hinder the rescue process and post disaster management, which might result in a higher casualty rate, more serious casualties, and more deaths. This is due to the lack of efficient and effective communication between the victims and the rescue teams.

Grading maps provided by the European Union’s Emergency Copernicus satellite mapping service to aid the authorities in displaying the damage coverage can provide an estimate of where most of the victims may be found. But during such an emergency, many victims would be buried under rubble, being unable to create a sound, or walking around in the darkness unaware of where they are roaming.

The first 72 hours after a disaster strike is crucial to save lives. Disaster response teams need to prepare, assess, and mobilise skilled rescue teams to the location. They need an efficient method of communication to receive the information required to assess the situation as quickly as possible, which will then result in quicker mobilisation. More precise information is also needed to not only more efficiently distribute the manpower to different areas if needed, but also to more accurately locate the people in need. Without comprehensive information communicated to the response team, they will not be able to conduct rescue efforts as swiftly and effectively, resulting in higher casualty and death rates. Furthermore, with the communication services being destroyed in certain disasters, even limited information may not be able to reach the response teams in the first place.

There is a need to be equipped with technology to be able to bypass this communication problem during times of disaster. A method to be able to relay necessary information to the relevant parties. And a finer means for disaster management.

The Robust Emergency Location Indicator Carry-on (RELIC) Beacon is a compact device to improve communication during disasters to aid rescue efforts. It is a multi-functional device that is equipped with a flashlight, distress siren, geo-location capability, and most importantly, allows for quick alerting of local disaster response organisations using satellite and mobile technology. It is designed to be user friendly so users of all ages are able to use it effectively.

The RELIC can communicate with each other before providing the location data to satellites, allowing relevant authorities to have clearer and more precise information of where the victims are located. When the responders arrive, they are also able to hear the siren sounds from the RELIC, leading them towards their victims directly, saving large amounts of time.

Compared to other existing satellite phones, the RELIC consumes significantly less power as all unnecessary functions are removed from it. One of the main components that consume power on satellite phones is the display screen, which the RELIC does not have. It only contains the essential components to provide communication from the victim to the rescue team

The outer casing of the RELIC is 3D printed to reduce the weight of the overall device while still maintaining robustness. It also reduces the cost of manufacturing as well as increasing the speed of production. Its overall dimensions are 70 mm x 50 mm x 15 mm.

By communicating with the satellite directly, the RELIC bypasses the problem of communication towers being destroyed during disasters. Within Singapore, we will target those working in menial labor, where accidents are prone. By implementing our product, rescue missions for those covered in rubble will be easily detected and rescued before the golden hour is up, saving their lives.

The team comprises highly skilled student engineers who possess a passion for overcoming challenges. Our team members have demonstrated their dedication to saving lives through their participation in many advanced humanitarian aid, as well as satellite design competitions. With a strong background in different sectors in engineering such as Aerospace, Medical technology, Chemical, and Robotics, and a drive to make a positive impact, our team is well-equipped to tackle any challenge that comes our way.

We conducted market research on areas frequently affected by disasters to gain insight into the lives of those who may have been saved. This research prompted us to develop a solution that prioritizes saving the most lives in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest cost possible.

While similar products exist, they often fall short in terms of cost, size, or functionality. Our product, however, offers a cost-effective solution that is both durable and versatile, capable of being mass-produced in times of need and provides a wide range of survival tools in addition to the ability to connect with global help, and our product is more affordable, portable and multi-functional in comparison to the other products available in the market.

Our goal is to bring the RELIC beacon to the pilot phase in Singapore by next year. We plan to develop a fully tested and reliable version of the RELIC beacon for deployment and collaborate with various community centers in Singapore to implement its use.

Once it is deployed, we expect to reduce the number of labour work related deaths within Singapore.

The RELIC Beacon is a compact device designed to improve communication during disasters and aid rescue efforts. It features a flashlight, distress siren, and geo-location capability using satellite and mobile technology. It is designed to be user-friendly and energy-efficient, with a 3D printed outer casing to reduce weight and cost. The device is able to communicate with other RELICs and send precise location data to satellites for local disaster response organizations. The beacon's dimensions are 70mm x 50mm x 15mm and it can be activated with a single button. It is a low-cost, easy-to-use device that can be mass-produced through injection molding and 3D printing.

Currently we are serving 0 people as we are in the concept phase. But with the help of funding, we expect to be in the Pilot phase within a year, granting us the opportunity to save the lives of thousands of workers in Singapore from menial labour accident-related deaths. Only after expansion to the ASEAN region would our product truly shine, with millions on the line due to natural disasters.

The current barriers include convincing the government to adopt our product. We will require financial support to produce thousands of products, and obtain an office for logistics.

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Product or Service: 

• The RELIC beacon is a low-cost, easy-to-use Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) designed to help rescue teams quickly locate survivors who are trapped under rubble or in other inaccessible areas after a disaster.

Target Market: 

• Governments, companies, and individuals in disaster-prone areas, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as high-risk work environments like mines or far sailing ships and individuals who frequent the outdoors where cellular reception can be non-existent.

Key Partners: 

• Manufacturers for mass-production of the RELIC beacon through injection molding and 3D printing, satellite providers for location tracking and broadcasting, and emergency response organizations for distribution and training.

Cost Structure: 

• Costs include research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales, customer support and maintenance, and distribution and training.

Key Activities: 

• Research and development, mass production, marketing and sales, customer support and maintenance, and distribution and training.

Customer Segments:

• Governments, companies, and individuals in disaster-prone areas, as well as high-risk work environments and outdoor enthusiasts.

Revenue Streams:

• Sales of the RELIC beacon to governments and companies through a 1-time unit purchase (1TUP) and 5-year maintenance contract.

• Sales of individual units and parts to individuals.