Blind SightBlind Spot Monitoring System for Cyclists

Timothy Holt, John Vandoloski, Henry Brown, Travis HaleProf. Mehrdaad Ghorashi Ph.D.

The American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 49,000 road cyclists are injured and another 700 are killed

by motor vehicles annually (NHTSA, 2014). One way to reduce these numbers is to develop a blind spot awareness system. Research indicates that there exists no consumer device that directly addresses this issue. In

this project, a working prototype of a device that improves the environmental awareness of road cyclists will be manufactured. This device reduces the reaction time of cyclists by alerting them to the

objects that are within both rear blind spots. This task is accomplished by a system of rear sensors which will be connected to both visual and

haptic feedback systems.

Bicyclists must maintain an appropriate degree of situational awareness while riding on highly trafficked roads. The process of going for a bicycle

ride should be a pleasant and safe experience; not one of undue stress and harm. Currently, cyclists must divert their attention away from the road

ahead in order to either check a side mirror or turn their head. The design addresses this issue by alerting the rider to objects behind them with LED

arrays in their peripheral vision. The design also possesses haptic feedback as a redundancy to the primary visual feedback system.

•Low profile mounting• Modularity for all bicycles• Lightweight• Easy installation• Reduced battery recharge

time

• Low cost• Reliable battery life• Increase rider awareness• Increase rider reaction time• Decrease the number of road

collisions involving cyclists

Figure 1 (left) displays the LED array and circuitry housings. The batteries will rest

within the troughs shown within the case. The PCB and circuitry elements will sit just above

the batteries separated by a thin divider. Both rear sensors will also rest inside the

aforementioned case. The case will be fitted with a water-tight grommet or seal.

Figure 2 (below) is the circuit schematic for the entire system. The design will light up the LED array located on the same side as the unseen

object. It will also operate four vibrational motors. Voltage regulators are included with the design as the individual circuit elements

operate at various voltages.

The goal of the project was to create a system to alert cyclists of objects within their blind spots. Although the system must be inexpensive and simple to use, safety and reliability were the most important design factors. The team took great care to ensure that the design was not intrusive to the rider while providing

the feedback necessary to increase their safety on the road. Furthermore, the device supplements the need for any mirrors allowing the user additional freedom while reducing their form factor on the road. With the installation and use of the team’s design, the number of injuries and deaths while cycling should be greatly

reduced.

"Bicyclists and Other Cyclists." U.S. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1 Apr. 2014. Web.

"BU-203: Nickel-based Batteries." Battery University. Isidor Buchmann, 1 Jan. 2015. Web.

Howard, Bill. "Blind Spot Detection: Car Tech That Watches Where You Can’t." ExtremeTech. 5 Sept. 2013. Web.

Lampton, Christopher. "How are cars making the blind spot less dangerous?" 17 April 2012. HowStuffWorks.com.

"NEMA Enclosure Types." National Electric Manufacturers Association. 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 1752 Rosslyn, VA 22209, 1 Nov. 2005. Web.

"X-205: Types of Lithium-ion." Battery University. Isidor Buchmann, 1 Jan. 2015. Web.

Special thanks to Professor Scott Harding for help with the circuit design and valued support.Special thanks to Professor Mehrdaad Ghorashi for continued support and engineering design knowledge.

Fig 1. Solidworks models of LED housing(left) and circuitry housing (right).

Fig 2. Solidworks model of LED array housing.

Fig 3. Solidworks model of battery, sensor, and circuitry housing.

Fig 4. Schematic for circuit of entire design.

Batteries: LiFePO4 - High energy Density, Safe, Quick Recharge

Microcontrollers: MSP430 - High availability; 3 already available to group members. Two members of group are in a class focusing on learning the architecture of and programming for this model.

Wire Insulation: PVC - Inexpensive, standard wire for many applications. Moderately high resistance to temperature, abrasion, and chemicals. Specifications are within our design criteria.

Casing: Solidworks - 3D printed cases designed via SolidWorks and Google SketchUp.

Technologies

Descriptions of Selected Figures

Discussion

Abstract

Introduction

Acknowledgements

References

Design Constraints Design Objectives