Jovan Palmieri wants to prevent fatal accidents, like the one involving an ambulance that backed over and killed a St. Paul woman in an alley in June.
After driving fire trucks and ambulances for 10 years for the St. Paul Fire Department, Jovan Palmieri couldn't help but worry about the safety system employed to back up the large vehicles.
A spotter stands behind the vehicles and uses hand signals and verbal commands to instruct the driver through blind spots. Searching for a better solution, Palmier collaborated for a year with students at Minnesota State University, Mankato, to invent the Back Safe System, a wireless device aimed at reducing vehicle back-up accidents.
"I was worried about backing up over one of the firefighters," Palmieri said. "I figured there has to be a better way of doing this and communicating."
The device requires the spotter to carry a wand with LED lights. The wand automatically lights up red when the vehicle is put into reverse. Meanwhile, lights in the driver's cab also light up red and an alarm sounds, warning the driver not to back up.
The driver can back up only when the spotter presses and holds down a trigger on the wand that turns the wand's and cab's lights green and silences the alarm.
"We're just proud of our member for taking his time to save lives with his inventiveness," said Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard.
Palmieri began working on the project in January, just months before a St. Paul Fire Department ambulance backed over and killed a pedestrian in an alley in June while responding to an emergency call. Palmieri was not involved.
A prototype has been constructed, and Palmieri hopes to begin manufacturing it for sale by next year. Palmieri sunk $15,000 of his own money into the project, his first invention. He says he has filed for a patent.
Bill Hudson, professor and chair of electrical and computer engineering at Minnesota State University, Mankato, said the device has "tremendous potential."
For the online Star Tribune story, click on http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/96189104.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
For more Star Tribune news, go to http://www.startribune.com/?elr=KArks:DCiUoaW_eEO7UiacyKUQ7c4E7ME5U
Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
