AI Driven Protection for Firefighters and First Responders
Recognition at the world’s most influential technology showcase carries weight, particularly when it highlights solutions with real world impact. At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Oshkosh Corporation was named a winner of the CES Picks Awards, recognised within the TWICE category for its Collision Avoidance Mitigation System, known as CAMS. Judged by industry experts, the Picks Awards celebrate technologies that push boundaries while delivering tangible benefits across multiple sectors.
The award positions CAMS among a select group of innovations that stood out on the show floor. With thousands of products competing for attention, this acknowledgement signals more than novelty. It underscores the growing importance of applied artificial intelligence in safety critical environments, particularly where emergency crews operate inches from live traffic under unpredictable conditions.
Why Roadside Safety Has Become a Critical Issue
Working on active roadways has long been one of the most dangerous aspects of emergency response. Firefighters, paramedics, police officers and tow operators routinely face fast moving traffic while attending incidents on hard shoulders and narrow lanes. Despite warning lights, cones and training, the risks remain persistent and, in many regions, are increasing as traffic volumes rise and driver distraction becomes more prevalent.
Industry data from transport authorities and emergency services consistently highlights struck by vehicle incidents as a leading cause of injury and fatality among roadside responders. Traditional mitigation measures can reduce risk, but they cannot remove it entirely. This reality has driven demand for intelligent systems capable of monitoring traffic behaviour and providing early warning before a near miss becomes a tragedy.
CAMS and Its Purpose Built Design
CAMS was developed with a singular focus. Anticipate collisions before they occur and give responders precious seconds to react. First introduced at CES 2025, the system is described as the first purpose built technology designed specifically to protect firefighters and others working on active roadways. Rather than adapting consumer vehicle systems, CAMS was engineered around the unique operational realities of emergency response.
Over the past year, Oshkosh field tested the AI powered platform with fire departments in major cities. Feedback from those trials shaped both functionality and usability. Responders welcomed an added layer of situational awareness that operates continuously, even when attention is divided across multiple hazards at an incident scene.
How the Technology Works
At the heart of CAMS is a sophisticated perception stack that combines radar with artificial intelligence and computer vision. This fusion allows the system to detect, classify and track oncoming vehicles with high precision. It continuously evaluates speed, trajectory and proximity relative to a parked emergency vehicle, identifying patterns that indicate elevated collision risk.
When the system determines that a vehicle is approaching dangerously, it issues audible alerts to crews on scene. These alerts are designed to be immediate and unambiguous, cutting through the noise and stress of an active incident. Inside the cab, integrated cameras enhance driver awareness before exiting the vehicle, offering a final check of approaching traffic conditions.
Beyond real time alerts, CAMS records continuous video footage. This capability supports post incident documentation, accident reconstruction and insurance processes. For departments facing increasing scrutiny and administrative burden, this secondary benefit adds operational value beyond immediate safety.
Scaling Protection Beyond Fire Services
While firefighters were the first beneficiaries of CAMS, Oshkosh has made clear that the platform is designed to scale. The company is now extending the system to support emergency medical services crews, police officers managing traffic or responding to roadside calls, and tow truck operators assisting stranded motorists.
Future enhancements are already in development. Planned additions include a mobile unit that can be deployed on highways or poorly lit shoulders upon arrival. This flexibility reflects an understanding that not all incidents involve large apparatus and that protection must adapt to different response scenarios.
Race Proven Intelligence Meets Emergency Response
CAMS was developed by Oshkosh’s Pratt Miller Motorsports business, a name closely associated with high performance racing and advanced vehicle engineering. Tested on Pierce fire apparatus, the system brings race proven intelligence into environments where hazards cannot be eliminated, only mitigated.
This crossover from motorsports to emergency services is more than a branding exercise. Racing demands rapid decision making based on incomplete information, a challenge shared by responders operating in live traffic. Applying that expertise to roadside safety demonstrates how innovations from competitive engineering can translate into public safety gains.
Leadership Perspective on Innovation and Purpose
The development of CAMS reflects a broader philosophy within Oshkosh around purpose driven innovation. Speaking on the recognition, Jay Iyengar, executive vice president, chief technology and strategic sourcing officer at Oshkosh Corporation, emphasised the mission behind the technology: “We created CAMS with a clear mission: to protect those who protect us. It’s the first technology of its kind in the fire industry and purpose built for the risks firefighters and other responders face daily. CAMS utilises AI to not only react to roadside hazards, but to help anticipate them.”
Iyengar also highlighted the significance of the CES recognition: “The Oshkosh team is proud to be recognised with this prestigious honour as we continue to build on our innovative solutions to find new ways to support the work of everyday heroes.”
Industry Recognition from CES Picks Awards
The CES Picks Awards editorial team reinforced the broader impact of this year’s winners, noting the diversity and applicability of the technologies recognised: “The Picks Awards recognise outstanding products across consumer technology, the custom installation industry and innovative technology that can truly help businesses of all sizes across various industries. Our team was highly impressed by the excellence and scope of this year’s entrants. All the winners should be proud of their achievements.”
Such endorsement places CAMS within a wider narrative of technology that bridges commercial innovation and public service, a space increasingly valued by policymakers and industry leaders alike.
Building on a Track Record of CES Success
This latest award marks the second consecutive year that Oshkosh has received a CES Picks Award. In 2025, the company was recognised for HARR E, the Hail able Autonomous Refuse Robot Electric. That autonomous, electric refuse collection robot offers on demand waste and recycling pickup via smartphone applications or virtual assistants.
Beyond the Picks Awards, Oshkosh was also named a CES Innovation Awards 2026 Best of Innovation recipient in the Robotics and Travel and Tourism categories. Recognition was awarded for the JLG Boom Lift with Robotic End Effector and the Oshkosh Airport Products Striker Volterra Electric Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicle. The company also received multiple CES Innovation Awards Honoree titles within the Construction and Industrial Tech category, reinforcing its breadth across sectors.
CES Visibility and Industry Engagement
Attendees at CES can experience CAMS and other Oshkosh innovations first hand at booth 4418 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Live demonstrations and scheduled tech talks provide opportunities for emergency services leaders, municipal decision makers and industry partners to explore how these systems integrate into real world operations.
This visibility at CES supports broader conversations around infrastructure safety, smart mobility and the role of AI in protecting workers at the roadside. As governments and agencies reassess safety standards, technologies like CAMS are likely to feature prominently in future procurement and policy discussions.
A Global Manufacturer with a Local Impact
Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs more than 18,000 team members worldwide. Its portfolio spans multiple industries, with products operating in over 150 countries. Across brands such as JLG, Pierce, McNeilus, Jerr Dan, Oshkosh Defense and Pratt Miller, the company has built a reputation for purpose built equipment designed for demanding environments.
CAMS fits squarely within that legacy. It represents a convergence of advanced engineering, artificial intelligence and an understanding of frontline risk. For emergency responders working on active roadways, it offers something increasingly rare. A measure of peace of mind backed by intelligent technology.
