A New System for Tagging Vehicles Involved in Hit-and-Run Incidents Injuring Cyclists.

Using an Arduino, we made a hit and run crash detector to check if a vehicle has hit the bicycle and trigger a spray.
Ernesto Dominguez, Lucas Ferreira Martins
Madeleine D' Houet Bilingual School
Grade 7

Hypothesis

If we make a device that detects a collision, then it will spray ink because the accelerometer will identify that the impact threshold was triggered.

Research

  • SIMILAR PROJECTS

Garmin incident detection is a has watch function that can send help messages to family and phone contacts when it detects a huge deceleration.

  • HOW AN ARDUINO WORKS

An Arduino works by using it “brain” which is it’s microcontroller. There’s also pins in order to connect to the Arduino, and there is a USB port to connect the code from the computer. The Arduino can handle a max of 6- 20 Volts, and has 256kb of memory.

  • AMOUNT OF HIT AND RUN DEATHS

When Calgary in the year 2025 has had 40¹ deaths of hit and run. It is unfortunately easy to hit a cyclist due to their small size and hard to see height, that's why we need to be more careful out on the streets.

  • WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRYING TO STOP HIT AND RUN

There are currently some organisations to help the victims of hit and runs like HHART ( Helping Hit And Run Tragedies)² and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF)³. They provide help by helping public awareness, Law enforcement help teach others and more.

  • HOW AN ACCELEROMETER WORKS⁴

A accelerometer is a device that detects acceleration within the 3 axis x, y and z. Inside the accelerometer is a microscopic structure called a seismic mass which is a structure with sensing fingers on the sides extending from it. The seismic mass is connected to a substrate, which is a rope that lets the seismic mass move back and forth. On each side, close to the side within reach of the seismic mass, are electrodes. When the seismic mass moves and touches the electrodes it causes to send a signal to the DMP ( Digital Motion Processor) to  calculate the acceleration.

  • HOW DOES THE GARMIN INCIDENT DETECTION WORK6

The Garmin watch has GPS and an accelerometer, which track the user’s speed, monitored by the watch. When there is a irregular or unexpected deceleration, the watch checks if it is either a huge potential crash or simply the user slowing down or braking.

  • HOW ARE G’S CALCULATED⁵

A G is a unit of how much gravitational force is on us currently when you are still. One G is equal to 9.81m/s. G force is calculated by dividing the acceleration of the object by 9.81m/s. In order to calculate the axis together (which we did in our code) is by using the equation √ x2 + y2 + z2 . What this equation does is first square each axis then addition them all together. After, they are found the square root which equals the answer.

Variables

 
Independent (Manipulated) Dependent (Result) Controlled
  • Height
  • The threshold of G’s the accelerometer will endure
  • If the accelerometer triggers or doesn’t
  • Speed of the fall that the accelerometer will fall at

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  • Type of accelerometer 
  • Type of Arduino (Uno)
  • Type of Servo
  • Type of bag that holds the box with the electronics

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Procedure

1: Setup a: Connect the wires to their correct corresponding ports on the arduino. b: Insert the 9 volt battery and connect to the arduino c: Make sure that the wires are in the right places and connected firmly d: Test if the code is correct using the computer  e: Put bubble wrap on the bottom only to lightly compact the fall f: Put the components into the bag and zip up the bag

2: Starting the Tests a: Go to the decided height b: Measure the height with the measuring tape c: Make sure that the wires are in the right places and connected firmly d: Take the bag and drop it off the edge. e: Inspect the inside to see if the LED is solid on and if the servo moved f: Note down if it triggered and reset each time you test g: Redo 3 times for each speed (There are 3 tests:10kph,15kph and 20kph) h: If the device triggers at 10kph and/or 15kph tests, then stop all remaining tests then increase threshold by 0.2 gs and redo the tests

Observations

Image

Analysis

The device behaved in the correct way, in first height a few did not have the ideal G. In the second height, two of them didn’t have a exemplary result. In the final height, there was only one which was successful. The device has the optimal threshold to not trigger below the acceleration and will trigger above the acceleration.

Conclusion

Our hypothesis has been confirmed, we could design and build a device capable of detecting when the deceleration threshold is exceeded using an accelerometer. When this threshold is surpassed, the system triggers the spray mechanism.

Application

Our results may help the Calgary Police Department to catch those who commit hit-and-run crimes.  In the future we can improve the code and do another research to find a type of  ink to spray vehicles that doesn’t come of easily, however non toxic and safe for humans. Also, we can improve the wiring and how we do the tests.

Sources Of Error

Instrumental: the device could have restarted before we saw the result. Environmental: there could have been a high wind resistance that slowed it down. The way it fell. Human: we could have triggered the device, we could have pushed it to hard.

Citations

Acknowledgement

We would like to say thank you to Mme Girard, Madeleine D’Houet school, our parents and CYSF coordinator for supporting our project and help stimulate our minds for the future!