2009 ISEF: The underground radio II

An underground radio can provide a quick and effi cient way to communicate during a mine or cave rescue. Many of the world's most dangerous caves are over 200 km in length and over 250 m deep. Rescues in these caves can take days and require tremendous effort to get the injured safely out of a cave that often contains numerous rappels, climbs, and dangerous terrain. Typical rescues use telephone wire or fiber-optic cables to communicate through cave passages. However, running these lines throughout the cave takes a significant amount of time and can damage the cave. These communication systems can not be left in the cave for lengthy periods because telephone lines can corrode very easily in this environment. Conversely, a radio installed at two or more central locations throughout the cave provides an efficient, low-impact, and fast method of communication to the surface.