Biometric Safety System for Power Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of power tools with moving parts, such as drills and chain saws, are at risk of injury due to the tool's continued operation during hazardous situations, as they focus on freeing themselves rather than disabling the tool, leading to increased risk of physical damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a management device that can switch between enabled and interruption conditions, connected to a biometric measuring device to detect sudden changes in user physiological parameters, such as heart rate, to immediately disable the tool's motion when danger is detected, thereby preventing further injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user focuses on freeing their body part from the dangerous area, then the user can quickly remove themselves from harm, but the tool continues to operate and causes increased physical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of dangerous situations through biometric monitoring (heart rate, body temperature, sweat) and proximity sensing before the user can react. When danger is detected, the system automatically interrupts the tool's operation in advance, preventing the worsening of the harmful situation rather than waiting for the user to free themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors biometric parameters and proximity data, providing real-time feedback about the user's safety status. When the feedback indicates a dangerous condition (elevated heart rate, excessive proximity to moving parts), the system automatically responds by interrupting the tool operation, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism that prevents physical damage.
2Reliability
If the user releases the pushbutton to disable the tool, then the tool motion stops, but the user is too concentrated on the dangerous area to perform this action
Solution Approach 1:
The safety system operates autonomously without requiring user intervention. It self-monitors biometric parameters and proximity conditions, then self-activates to interrupt tool operation when danger is detected. This eliminates the need for the user to manually release the pushbutton, as the system handles the disabling action itself based on detected conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical action of releasing a pushbutton with an automated electronic control system. Biometric sensors and proximity detectors trigger electronic signals that automatically interrupt the motor control circuitry, substituting the user's manual disabling action with an automated sensing and control system.
3Extent of automation
If proximity sensors are used to switch the apparatus ON/OFF based on user position, then the apparatus can be controlled automatically, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional biometric monitoring devices that serve both health tracking and safety monitoring purposes. The same sensors that detect heart rate and body temperature are also used to determine user safety status for tool control, eliminating the need for separate dedicated safety sensors and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines proximity sensing, biometric monitoring, and tool control functions into an integrated safety system. Rather than using separate proximity sensors and separate control mechanisms, the invention merges these functions into a unified system where biometric data and proximity information work together to trigger a single automated response.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is an apparatus (1) for safeguarding users during use of apparatuses (2) with at least a part in motion, comprising a management device (3) of the motion in use connected to the apparatus (2) and configurable between an enabling condition of the motion and a condition of interrupting the motion. The apparatus (1) comprises a device (7) for measuring at least one biometric value associated in use with the body of the user to measure this value biometric and a processing unit (9) operatively connected to the management device (3) and to the measuring device (7) configured to interrupt the movement of the part when the measured biometric value moves away from reference biometric value.