Snowmobile Collision Detection Using BLE and LoRaWAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snowmobile and off-road vehicle riders face high risks of collisions due to limited visibility and reaction time, especially at high speeds, with no effective warning systems to prevent accidents and maintain group cohesion during rides.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle detection system utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LoRaWAN, and GPS technologies to calculate collision risks and provide timely warnings, featuring LED indicators for proximity alerts, group pairing, and an SOS button for emergency situations, designed to operate in harsh environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If snowmobiles and off-road vehicles are operated at high speeds, then productivity and excitement are improved, but collision risk and safety deteriorate due to limited visibility and reaction time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of other vehicles and calculates collision risks before actual collision can occur. The proximity sensor continuously monitors surrounding environment and provides advance warning to riders, enabling them to take preventive action before entering dangerous situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring vehicle positions, calculating collision risks in real-time, and providing ongoing warnings to riders. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows riders to adjust their behavior based on current risk levels and maintain safe operation at high speeds.
2Speed
If visibility on trails is limited, then the ability to maintain high speed is improved, but reaction time to obstructions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity sensor detects other vehicles and potential obstructions before they become visible to the rider. By calculating collision risks in advance based on relative positions and speeds, the system provides early warning that compensates for limited visual detection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary sensory extension, detecting vehicles and obstacles that are beyond the rider's visual range. The sensor system serves as an intermediate detection layer between the rider and actual obstructions, providing information that would otherwise be unavailable.
3Reliability
If riders operate in groups, then social interaction and safety through mutual support are improved, but coordination and communication become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity sensor system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects individual collision risks, monitors group member positions, provides safety warnings, and enables group coordination. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to all group members about relative positions and potential risks. This shared information feedback enables automatic group coordination without requiring complex communication protocols, as each rider receives relevant safety information directly.
4Measurement precision
If proximity sensors continuously monitor surrounding vehicles, then collision detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity sensor operates using periodic measurement cycles rather than continuous monitoring. The system periodically scans for vehicles, calculates collision risks, and updates warnings, which reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate detection accuracy for safety-critical applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle detection system warns snowmobilers of other approaching vehicles with potential risk of collision. To better prevent accidents, the system calculates collision risks and warns the rider based on level of risk. When riding in groups, a member can press a stop request button to ask the group to slow down. When a member exits the group, everyone in the group will receive a message, alerts or indication with the update. The vehicle detection system utilizes Bluetooth® low energy (BLE), LoRaWAN® technologies and/or global positioning system technologies and is designed to detect other devices in the region and use acquired information to calculate proximity and risk of collision.