Abstract
In this research, we propose a "Rescue Stick" that enables to search avalanche victims rapidly. The Rescue Stick is used by victims buried into snow due to an avalanche disaster. In conventional method for searching avalanche victims, an avalanche beacon and a probe stick are widely used. However this method takes time to search buried victim. The Rescue Stick beneath snow can extend over a snow surface quickly by a extending mechanism, and serve a guiding mark for rescue. Because the avalanche victim uses the Rescue Stick, a searching party can find locations of victims visually and save them. The extending mechanism consists of moving pulleys, nested stages, worm gear with a high-power motor and an avalanche beacon. This paper describes a prototype development and a functional verification of the extending mechanism for the Rescue Stick.
