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University students build the next generation ‘Transformer’ vehicles Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) launched its pioneering ‘Transformer’ vehicle back in June 2011. Using a Toyota Avensis, very generously donated by Toyota UK Ltd, students from Derby University were able to build a vehicle, which is today considered a valuable addition not only to our own training resources, but is also key in road safety initiatives. For DFRS, as a fire and rescue service that strives ‘to be the best fire and rescue learning and development provider’, the Transformer was always going to be ‘only the beginning’. Enter the Ex-Tractor and the SES Simulator. Words: Mark Burnham, Watch Manager, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service. The Transformer has enabled DFRS to educate other emergency services in the many options available to them when faced with casualty extrication and to educate young drivers – raising their awareness of the dangers of the road as part of our Road Traffic Collision Reduction Initiative. It also, of course, allowed us to educate our own firefighters to ensure casualty entrapment times are kept to an absolute minimum.
“It is essential that all of the emergency services are prepared and professionally trained to deal with these incidents.” Such is the success of this vehicle DFRS has received enquiries from as far afield as South Africa, where authorities want to create something similar to educate their own medics. The Transformer also reached the final six in the Innovation category of the Lord Stafford Awards 2012. In June 2012, DFRS pitched two new projects to students entering into their 3rd year BEng Motor Sport and Engineering Honours courses. The two projects were so appealing that both projects were undertaken and are currently underway.
The Ex-Tractor is an HGV with removable parts built into the existing vehicle and sleeper cab, while retaining all of the original cab furniture and maintaining driveability.
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The Ex-Tractor The Transformer has given DFRS the scope to train for all manner of RTCs involving cars, but as we are all too aware, our roads have a much bigger headache in the form of HGVs. Thousands of HGVs take to the roads each year and inevitably a percentage of those are involved in RTCs. It is therefore essential that all of the emergency services are prepared and professionally trained to deal with these incidents, giving casualties the best possible chance of recovery by limiting any risks they may be exposed to during the extrication process. Although quite a challenge from the outset, the Ex-Tractor is on course to being an invaluable, albeit very large, piece of training equipment. The brief was to design a HGV with removable parts built into the existing vehicle and sleeper cab, while retaining all of the original cab furniture and maintaining driveability; a challenge to which Lee, Hayley, Rob, Marcus, Callum and Ryan, all studying 2nd Year Motor Sport Engineering, are rising. Using specially designed fixings and hinges generously donated by Albert Jagger Ltd, the students have been able to design and commence the build of the Ex-Tractor, producing a vehicle that demonstrates: removal of the windscreen, door removal, dashboard roll, quarter cab removal, front roof flap and full stabilisation of the vehicle – all contributing to the six key phased approach, which is adopted nationally. The SES Simulator The SES (Safety Engineering Simulator) Simulator is being designed to demonstrate the many safety systems that are integral to today’s modern vehicle. The advent of driver safety has unfortunately created an RTC environment littered with hidden dangers for firefighters using cutting equipment and all other emergency services attending these incidents. Airbags, side impact protection systems, seat belt pre-tensioners, adaptive headrests and pyrotechnics, which are integral to all of these systems, are just some of the safety features needing consideration when looking at the best possible way to extricate a casualty safely, effectively and as quickly as possible. The brief students Tom, Das, Ajay, Johnson and Rizwan were given was to design a car that would demonstrate the real life actuation and deployment times of vehicle safety systems, each and every time the vehicle is used. The brief also requested that each element could be re-charged/re-instated without any ongoing costs to the service.
The SES (Safety Engineering Simulator) Simulator is being designed to demonstrate the many safety systems that are integral to today’s modern vehicle.
It is anticipated that the SES Simulator and the Ex-Tractor, like the Transformer, will be used not only to train firefighters, but will visit schools as part of our Road Traffic Collision Reduction Initiative and used to train other emergency services. It was therefore imperative that both vehicles remained drivable in order for them to be driven on to the low loaders that will transport them to various venues throughout Derbyshire. Excellent partnerships Both projects, along with the Transformer, would not have been possible without the excellent partnerships that exist between DFRS, Derby University and Toyota UK Ltd, all partnerships which we hope will continue to develop and thrive for the foreseeable future. Steve Hill, Programme leader for Motorsport at Derby University, said, “The enthusiasm and commitment that each student has demonstrated is commendable and testament to the fantastic relationship with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service. We will continue to work together and push the boundaries of RTC simulation techniques and applications, and are already looking forward to the next challenge.” It is fantastic to see both projects finally coming to fruition and to have witnessed the fantastic teamwork the students have demonstrated. Both the Ex-Tractor and the SES Simulator took pride of place at the student’s end of year degree show in June and are then expected be in full use as a valuable training resource, based at Derbyshire’s Kingsway Training Centre. www.derbys-fire.gov.uk
See the Ex-Tractor on display at The Emergency Services Show 2013.
Emergency Services Times October 2013