An automatic fire searching and suppression system for large spaces

An automatic fire searching and suppression system with remote-controlled fire monitors for large spaces is developed. The fire searching method is realized based on computer vision theory via one CCD camera fixed at the end of a fire monitor chamber. While the fire monitor is pivoting, continuous images are taken from the CCD camera and transmitted into a computer. Then the images are processed with an image fire detection method to determine whether a fire occurs in the vision field. Once a fire is detected, it will be automatically located through an image processing algorithm. Displacement and pivot angle of the CCD camera in searching process are the essential parameters to calculate the space coordinates of a fire. When the coordinates of the fire are obtained, the fire monitor can be adjusted to the appropriate direction and elevation to spray according to water pressure.