Lab 1 – DFM Description
Lab I – Don’t Forget Me (DFM) Product Description
Daniel H. Holloway
CS411
Janet Brunelle
February 04, 2008
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Lab 1 – DFM Description
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Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 3
2 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities ............................................................................. 4
2.2 Major Components (Hardware/Software)......................................................................... 6
2.3 Target Market/Customer Base .......................................................................................... 7
3 PRODUCT PROTOTYPE DESCRIPTION ................................................................................ 8
3.1 Prototype Functional Objectives ....................................................................................... 8
3.2 Prototype Architecture .................................................................................................... 10
3.3 Innovative Features ......................................................................................................... 12
3.4 Major Challenges and Risks ........................................................................................... 13
4 PROTOTYPE DEMONSTRATION DESCRITION ................................................................ 14
GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................. 16
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 17
List of Figures
Figure 1. Major functional component diagram ............................................................................. 6
Figure 2. Prototype major functional component diagram ........................................................... 10
List of Tables
Table 1. Feature comparison between actual DFM system and prototype ................................... 12
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Lab 1 – Don’t Forget Me (DFM) Product Description
1 INTRODUCTION
There were 652 injury incidents involving kids and automobiles in the year 2007. Also,
there were reports of 804 children involved in accidents resulting in 202 fatalities. Furthermore,
there were reports of 9,100 children treated in emergency rooms due to non-traffic incidents.
Additionally, there are several issues contributing to non-traffic incidents involving vehicles and
children. These include children left in a vehicle’s passenger compartment in hot weather, or
who lock themselves in the trunk of a vehicle, children strangled by a vehicle’s power window or
sunroof, children killed or injured as a result of a vehicle backing up, and children killed or
injured as a result of vehicle-generated carbon monoxide. Out of the total number non-traffic
fatalities in the year 2005, 23% were due to children left alone in vehicles during hot conditions.
Also, it is important to point out that the 49% of child fatalities due to being backed over by a
vehicle will diminish because of new solutions coming on line that utilize camera technology.
The information regarding child deaths due to vehicle rollover was not available at the time these
statistics came out; therefore, the percentage should decrease for these incidents, however, the
percentage due to hyperthermia will increase.
It is life threatening when human’s body temperatures reaches above 104°F. Also, when a
human’s body temperature reaches 106°F, brain death begins. When one’s body temperature
reaches 113°F, death is nearly certain. It does not take long for a vehicle to reach temperatures
damaging or fatal to humans in the summer. When the temperature outside is 80°F the
temperature inside a vehicle initially is 80°F, in 10 minutes the temperature inside increases to
99°F, within 20 minutes the temperature is 109°F, within 30 minutes the temperature inside is
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114°F, within 40 minutes the temperature is 118°F, within 50 minutes the temperature is 120°F,
and within 60 minutes the temperature is 123°F. Internal temperatures above 122°F will cause
rigidity in the muscles and certain, immediate death.
Don’t Forget Me (DFM) is a vehicle health and human occupant detection system to
monitor unsafe conditions, and was conceived by the Old Dominion University (ODU) CS410
Blue Group. DFM is a system for detecting unsafe conditions for occupants that are not capable
of caring for them and are left alone in a vehicle. What will be provided to the customer is patent
that can be licensed by a company for each vehicle the DFM is installed in. The DFM system
will provide and vast array of sensors, coupled with advanced algorithms to determine a more
accurate occurrence of human life at risk.
2 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities
DFM is a system capable of alerting a caregiver when they have left behind a child or
person not capable of caring for themselves in a vehicle. DFM comprises of a plurality of sensors
that will monitor certain environmental conditions that will notify the caregiver when DFM’s
advantaged health monitoring software concludes conditions are not safe for the occupant or
occupants left behind. The sensors used for sensing safe or unsafe conditions include
temperature, pressure, motion, CO2, and heartbeat. By using a multitude of sensors, a false alarm
is eliminated, and saves valuable time from incidents involving emergency personnel and
ultimately saves lives and dollars.
The temperature sensor included with DFM will sense abnormal vehicle conditions due to
heat that are defined as unsafe. It will also provide a diverse array of conditions to be met that are
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heat related. DFM will analyze the temperature in the vehicle and formulate a set of tests to
verify conditions of safe for a living being.
The pressure sensor included with the DFM detects small vibrations that are analyzed and
compared to predetermined vibrations and will help detect an occupant in the vehicle. At the
same time a motion sensor will detect any movement in a vehicle. There are situations where it is
generally undesirable to leave a child, elderly person, unconscious person, or a pet in the
compartment of a vehicle. This is especially true on a hot day when the inside temperature of a
vehicle rises extremely fast.
The CO2 sensor included with the DFM will detect carbon dioxide. The CO2 sensor will
provide data to determine concentration levels of carbon dioxide. Usually, a higher carbon
dioxide concentration, correlates to decreased ventilation. Determining levels of carbon dioxide
is an important component is developing a vehicle health system to analyze dangerous conditions
within the compartment of a vehicle.
The heartbeat sensor included with the DFM will detect a heartbeat within the compartment
of a vehicle. By capturing vibration or acoustic signals, advanced algorithms will determine if
they match that of a human heartbeat. By implementing these various sensors and incorporating
advanced algorithms, the capability of detecting a real crisis of human life at risk will be
inevitable. Also, included with the DFM system will be a key fob that will have a receiver
device to send out an alarm when the DFM detects a human life at risk.
The motion sensor included with the DFM will detect motion within a vehicle when the
engine is turned off. The use of a motion sensor and a timing device can help analyze the vehicle
to determine that there is no occupant left in a vehicle after the engine has been turned off.
Radar motion sensing is employed to detect substantial movement of objects within the vehicle.
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The key fob will provide an alarm that consists of a radio frequency (RF) receiver to receive
a signal representing an occupant has been left in a vehicle, which could result in a dangerous
situation. This fob will usually be carried by the caregiver, and when they have left someone
behind and are in a dangerous situation the alarm will go off. The distance will be predetermined,
and configured by the manufacturer.
2.2 Major Components (Hardware/Software)
Figure 1. Major functional component diagram
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Figure 1 illustrates Blue Team member, Hernan Gonzales’ design for the major functional
components of the DFM system. The diagram demonstrates the array of sensors interacting
together with signals being collected and processed by a CPU. The CPU will be running
software designed with advanced algorithms to analyze all data collected, and any at given time
determine conditions to warrant an alarm.
The first five major components displayed are all the sensors including motion,
temperature, CO2, pressure, and heartbeat. The motion sensor will be utilized to detect
movement within a vehicle. When detected, it sends a signal to the CPU and listens for a signal
from all of the sensors detecting occupancy from within the vehicle.
2.3 Target Market/Customer Base
With diminishing car sales in recent months, each car maker is looking for ways to gain
an edge over their competitors. Vehicle safety can give them an edge. The cost of the DFM
system compared to the average cost of a passenger vehicle of $25,000 is minimal. The sales
increase for a vehicle installed with our DFM safety system outweighs the cost for the car
manufacturer. Also, the consumer buying the vehicle from the dealership will not be affected
greatly because the cost is negligible. With car sales decreasing in recent months, our DFM
safety system installed in a vehicle will show the consumer that car dealerships are dedicated to
providing hence a safe vehicle, helping increase sales by gaining the consumer’s confidence.
The second target market is the manufacturers’ of school buses. There has been a debate
recently about installing seat belts into school buses. This debate highlights the concern for
safety on buses; however, buses generally maintain a good safety record. Additionally, school
bus manufactures may want to show a safety commitment with their buses, and may want to
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offer a better product with more safety features. The DFM will provide bus manufacturers with a
less intrusive system, and one that requires little assistance from the bus driver. Schools buses
are critiqued for their safety features. School bus manufacturers will gain an edge by installing
the DFM, and having a device to monitor students in a compartmentalized environment. Also,
the cost of the DFM, compared to the average cost of a school bus of $70,000 is minimal.
The Blue Team will patent the DFM system, with a strategy of having the car manufacturer
license the technology paying a fee for every unit installed in a vehicle over the lifetime of the
patent. The DFM will provide a car or bus manufacturer an innovative system of implementing
an array of sensors and advanced software to mitigate the chance of false alarms in determining
occupancy in a vehicle in an unwanted situation. This device will demonstrate to the consumer
their dedication to producing safer vehicles.
3 PRODUCT PROTOTYPE DESCRIPTION
The prototype of the DFM system is designed to demonstrate how the technology
implemented in this device will contain a more accurate means for deciding that there is an
occupant left in a vehicle who needs a caregiver.
3.1 Prototype Functional Objectives
The first functional objective is to demonstrate the use of various sensor technologies. A
Graphical User Interface (GUI) will be used to show that the sensors are detecting the
environmental conditions that they are designed for. First, a temperature sensor will show the
temperature in real time through a virtual instrument that will represent a thermometer. Second, a
motion sensor will show movement in real time through a virtual instrument that will be
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represented by a light emitting diode (LED) that will only be turned off when motion has
deceased for a period of time. Third, a CO2 sensor will be show that CO2 has been detected by
using a virtual instrument to visualize the occurrence, and is achieved by the use of a LED.
Fourth, a pressure sensor will be utilized and represented by the use of a virtual instrument in the
form of a graphical meter. The sensor will detect small vibrations that will be compared to a
predetermined signal and aid in detecting an occupant in the vehicle. Fifth, a heartbeat sensor
will aid to determine life in a vehicle. This is achieved through simulating a heartbeat signal
created in specific time intervals.
The second objective is to demonstrate the interoperability of the array of different sensors
utilized in this system. In order to achieve this objective, we will design virtual instruments by
using Labview software. Also, we will design and implement algorithms to receive the signals
from a vast array of sensors, and analyze the data to determine if harmful conditions exist.
The third and last objective will be to demonstrate that the DFM will provide a more
accurate means of determining if an occupant is left in a vehicle by their caregiver, and will
eliminate false alarms from occurring that can take up resources in personnel, and equipment that
ultimately cost taxpayer’s money.
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3.2 Prototype Architecture
Figure 2. Prototype major functional component diagram
Figure 2 illustrates the components of the DFM prototype and the flow of data from the
sensors to the GUI. It transforms the components from Figure 1 to a visual representation of how
we will successfully demonstrate our prototype. We will use multiple sensors, data acquisition
(DAQ), RF transmitter, RF receiver, Labview software, and advanced algorithms to help give a
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visual understanding of how this system will work. The DAQ will be connected to a laptop
computer through a universal service bus (USB). The DAQ will collect the signals from the
sensors and convert them to electrical signals. Virtual instruments designed using Labview
software will give one a visual of the sensors working and the decision-making of the
complicated algorithms.
The DFM prototype will use real temperature, CO2, pressure, and motion sensors to
sense environmental conditions, but will use a simulation signal for the heartbeat sensor. The
temperature sensor will use will be a thermistor, and will meet the specifications for the
conditions that can be generated in a hot vehicle. For simulating a heartbeat, a signal
representing a heartbeat will be generated by our system. With financial limitations, a heartbeat
sensor cannot be obtained; however, a generated signal will help demonstrate the decisionmaking of our system when a heartbeat condition is met.
Labview software loaded on a laptop will provide a cost effective way for demonstrating,
and testing of our product. Labview provides a cost effective way for integrating our various
sensors and DAQ. Since this will be loaded on a laptop, and the DAQ has a USB interface, this
prototype will easily transport to any location. The prototype will closely represent the actual
DFM system as shown in the below table.
Features
Actual System
Motion Sensor
Senses motion and sends
signal to the DFM program
to analyze if conditions is
safe.
CO2 Sensor
Pressure Sensor
Senses the presence of
CO2 and sends signal to
the DFM program.
Senses a change in
pressure and sends signal
to the DFM program. The
Prototype System
Senses motion and sends
signal to the DAQ which
sends electrical signal to
Labview to analyze if
conditions is safe.
Senses CO2 and sends
signal to the DAQ which
sends electrical signal to
Labview to analyze if
conditions is safe.
Senses a change in
pressure and sends signal
to the DAQ which sends
Lab 1 – DFM Description
Heartbeat sensor (Vibration sensor)
Temperature Sensor
DFM Software
Microcontroller
Key fob
Alarm
Deactivate switch
software will use this
information and other
information to determine
the presence of an
occupant.
One or more of these
sensors will be used to
determine received
vibrations match that of a
heartbeat.
Senses the temperature
within the compartment
area of a vehicle.
Software for determining
unsafe conditions
The CPU and ROM will be
located on a microcontroller
that takes input values and
executes DFM software to
determine unsafe
conditions.
DFM key fob to receive
signal indication an unsafe
condition has been
determined.
When the DFM software
determines there is an
unsafe condition, and alarm
will go off.
There will be a switch
located in the back of the
compartment area of a
vehicle and will be used for
to deactivate the alarm.
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electrical signal to Labview
to analyze if conditions is
safe.
A simulated signal will be
generated for
demonstration purposes.
Senses the temperature
and sends signal to the
DAQ which sends electrical
signal to Labview to analyze
if conditions is safe.
Algorithms will be written
using Labview.
A laptop will be used for
executing software.
An RF receiver will be used
to simulate key fob.
When the DFM software
determines there is an
unsafe condition, and alarm
will go off.
A simple break in the circuit
will be used to demonstrate
deactivation switch.
Table 1. Feature comparison between actual DFM system and prototype
3.3 Innovative Features
The major innovative features in our prototype are the utilization of an array of sensors
and advanced algorithms to eliminate false alarms as well as provide a more accurate
determination of unsafe conditions along with the presence of an occupant that was left
unintentionally in a vehicle. By collecting a multitude of signals from environmental conditions
within a vehicle, advanced algorithms can be utilized to analyze the data to reduce, if not
eliminate inaccurate conclusions. Our competitors use some of the sensors we utilize; however,
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they fail to utilize a multitude of sensors and collecting the data needed to make an accurate
determination of an unattended occupant left behind and possibly in an emergency situation.
3.4 Major Challenges and Risks
Numerous challenges and risks must be overcome during the development of the DFM
prototype. The first major risk is one of the sensors failing because the signal is out of range. To
mitigate the risk research must be implemented when purchasing the sensors in order to select
sensors that meet the specifications accurately, and sense the conditions needed to monitor. Each
sensor needs to acquire data in the ranges that can exist in a vehicle in hot and cold conditions. It
will be mitigated by researching conditions that can be met in a vehicle and select our sensors
after thoroughly over viewing the specification of each sensor.
A second risk is the software fails to alarm when unsafe conditions occur. There could be a
combination of signals that need to be analyzed to accurately determine and occupant is left
behind in a vehicle and unsafe conditions exist. To mitigate this risk, there needs to be vigorous
testing procedures in place to make sure every condition has been tested to receive the correct
response intended. A multitude of simulated input must be generated to prevent this from
occurring. The development team will work closely with the sensor specialist.
Other risk could happen while moving the equipment needed to demonstrate the DFM
system. Connections from the sensors to the DAQ can be easily disconnected, or partially
disconnected to produce intermittent interruptions. In demonstrating ones product the perception
of the system not working correctly could be devastating to potential buyers. To mitigate this
risk, all connections and preliminary testing will be established upon arrival in area of
demonstration. Also a computer failure could occur from hardware failure or crash. To mitigate
this risk an extra laptop with all software needed will be available and loaded prior to
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demonstration. Furthermore, the DFM prototype will need to be tested for functionality prior to
the demonstration.
4 PROTOTYPE DEMONSTRATION DESCRITION
The DFM prototype demonstration will require a temperature, CO2, motion, pressure
sensor, DAQ, Labview software, and laptop to simulate how the DFM system should behave.
Furthermore, a simulated signal of a heartbeat will be generated for simulating the heartbeat
sensor. A laptop computer will be setup with Labview software installed to provide the
graphical interface for our demonstration. An overview of the DFM prototype function
component diagram will be given prior to the actual demonstration.
Using a DAQ, the sensors will be connected to the analog signal side of a 6009 series
DAQ purchased from National Instruments. From the DAQ, a USB cable will connect to a
laptop. The laptop will have Labview installed which virtual instruments representing the signals
from the sensors will be obtained within on graphical user interface. There will be two output
connections from the DAQ. A RF transmitter will be connected to one of the outputs in order to
send an RF signal to the RF receiver located on the key fob. An alarm will be connected to the
other output of the DAQ in order to represent the alarm going off on the key fob.
In order to simulate hot conditions in a vehicle a heat gun will be used to apply heat. Also,
the movement of the demonstrator will show how motion is detected in order to help analyzed an
occupant is in the vehicle. Also, to make a more accurate determination a pressures sensor will
also detect a change in pressure when occupant has left or entered the vehicle. Furthermore, a
heartbeat sensor will be simulated by generating a heartbeat signal to add to the final decision
from the DFM software there is an occupant in the vehicle. To show the decision-making
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process, different combination of signals will be applied to show the determined action from the
DFM system.
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GLOSSARY
CO2 sensor – A sensor for detecting carbon dioxide gas. These sensors can be infrared gas
sensors or chemical gas sensors.
Heartbeat sensor – A sensor that detects tiny vibrations and determines if they match the signal
of a heartbeat.
Interoperability – Interoperability is the ability of diverse systems to work together (interoperate).
Motion sensor – Sensor for detecting movement or motion.
Pressure sensor – Sensor for detecting change in pressure.
Radio Frequency (RF) – Any frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum associated with
radio wave propagation. When an RF current is supplied to an antenna, an electromagnetic field
is created that then is able to propagate through space. Many wireless technologies are based on
RF field propagation.
Sensor -- Any device designed to measure conditions or ambient pressures and temperatures. A
sensor is electronic in nature and designed to send a voltage signal to computer device.
Thermistor (Temperature sensor) – A thermally sensitive resistor that produces a difference in
electrical resistance when a change in temperature occurs.
Universal service bus (USB) – USB is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB is
intended by design to allow peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface
socket and utilizing plug and play capabilities.
Virtual instrument (VI) – Is an object that represents an instrument which contains the
behaviors for which the instrument produces. A VI can be designed using Labview software that
utilizes G code.
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REFERENCES
Blue Team. (2007,December). Major Functional Component Diagram. [Figure 1] Figure
created during CS 410 at Old Dominion University.
Department of Geosciences. (2007). Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles. Retrieved
January 21, 2008, from San Francisco State University Web site:
http://ggweather.com/heat/
Kids and Cars. Welcome to the KIDS and CARS Website! Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Kids
and Cars Web site: http://www.kidsandcars.org/
Labview. Online NI LabVIEW 20 Years of Innovation. Retrieved February 02, 2008, from
National Instruments Web site: http://www.ni.com/labview/