Automobile Child Safety Alert System Using Dongle Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle safety systems do not effectively alert drivers to potential child safety hazards, such as leaving a child behind in an unattended vehicle, after the engine is turned off, and lack a mechanism to ensure the vehicle remains secure until the driver acknowledges the alert.
Innovation Solution
An automobile child safety alert system comprising a vehicle circuit, a fob circuit, and a dongle that monitors the Vehicle Engine Control Unit (VECU) to transmit a message when the engine is turned off, and if unacknowledged, automatically opens windows, activates the horn, and flashes lights, while the dongle physically disables the vehicle circuit to prevent unauthorized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the vehicle circuit transmits an alert message to the fob circuit when the engine is turned off, then driver awareness of potential child safety hazards is improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional communication components and protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the vehicle circuit monitors engine shutdown status and automatically transmits alert messages to the fob circuit carried by the driver. This closed-loop feedback ensures the driver is notified of potential child safety hazards without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction by automating the information delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The fob circuit serves as an intermediary device between the vehicle circuit and the driver. It receives alert messages from the vehicle circuit and presents them to the driver in an accessible format, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring reliable information delivery about child safety hazards.
2Reliability
If the vehicle circuit automatically opens windows and activates horn and lights when the alert is unacknowledged, then child safety is enhanced through forced vehicle security, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to automatic control actions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically opening windows, activating the horn, and flashing lights when the alert remains unacknowledged after a predetermined time period. This preliminary automated response ensures child safety measures are initiated without requiring complex driver decisions in urgent situations, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on driver response. Initially, it provides a gentle alert notification, but if unacknowledged within the predetermined time, it escalates to automatic security actions. This dynamic progression allows the system to maintain ease of operation for attentive drivers while ensuring child safety for unresponsive scenarios.
3Reliability
If the dongle physically disables the vehicle circuit operation, then unauthorized vehicle operation is prevented, but the adaptability decreases due to physical disconnection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The dongle acts as an intermediary security device that physically connects to the vehicle circuit's OBD port. It monitors system status and can physically disable vehicle circuit operation when unauthorized access or unacknowledged child safety alerts are detected. This intermediary approach provides robust security while maintaining adaptability through standardized OBD port compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The dongle changes the operational parameters of the vehicle circuit by transitioning it from an enabled to a disabled state through physical disconnection or electrical isolation. This parameter change ensures security by preventing unauthorized vehicle operation while maintaining adaptability through reversible disconnection that allows legitimate users to restore functionality.
4Measurement precision
If the system monitors the VECU continuously to determine operational status, then detection precision of engine shutdown is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic monitoring of the VECU at predetermined intervals rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action maintains sufficient detection precision for engine shutdown events while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and energy usage.
Data Source
AI summary
The automobile child safety alert system is an alarm system that comprises an automobile, a vehicle circuit, a fob circuit, and a dongle. The vehicle circuit mounts in the automobile. The fob circuit and the dongle are handheld devices. The dongle plugs into the vehicle circuit. The automobile further comprises a VECU. The automobile child safety alert system monitors the VECU to determine the operational status of the automobile. When the engine of the automobile is turned off, the vehicle circuit transmits a first message to the fob circuit. If fob circuit fails to acknowledge the first message after a previously determined amount of time, the vehicle circuit signals the VECU to: a) open the windows of the automobile; and, b) initiate the sounding of the horn and the flashing of the lights of the automobile. The dongle physically disables the operation of the vehicle circuit.