Just Encase Design Challenge – Winter Driving Safety – Blog #1

Welcome to my first blog for the Just Encase Design Challenge – Winter Driving Safety.

Here in Edmonton, Alberta, winter driving isn’t very safe. Starting in late October going on until late March, we have winter weather. Today is December 5^th, the outside temperature is -21° C, 2 days ago it was +3° C and raining/snowing. Well, the last time I checked, water is a liquid, and its solid form is known as ice. The process of water becoming ice is known as freezing (0° C or less). This ice thing is great for skating and many different sports, but not driving.

So how do you keep safe while driving in winter weather? Unfortunately, the only way is to stay home and not drive. But, there are ways to improve your safety while driving; like, winter tires, strong battery, and winter maintenance to name a few.

There will soon be another way:

The “Winter Driving Safety Monitor”, my proposal for this design challenge.

Here is how it will work.

• The “Enclosure Cases”, supplied by Hammond Manufacturing (Our sponsor) will safely hold and protect the final project.
• The 2 Arduino MKR WAN 1300 will process and display the recorded data received from the following sensors.
  • GPS Module to record vehicle speed.
  • Temperature Sensor
  • Humidity Sensor
  • Carbon Monoxide Detector (See details below)
• One of the Arduinos will receive, process and record the data then save it to a micro SD card.
• The second Arduino will retrieve that data from the SD card, compile the data to assess the road condition and display it to the driver.
• With this information, it will give the driver the recommended driving speed and alert you if you’re going to fast.

No matter how cautious you are, accidents happen. If this does happen to you, the cold weather makes it dangerous if it takes a bit of time for emergency vehicles to get you help. Most people, if they can, keep their vehicle running to keep warm even those not in an accident.

This brings up another issue:

Winter months mean driving with the windows up and the heater cranked to 10. Accidents are common on ice and snow, but another kind of accident is one that can usually be completely prevented. Every winter, carbon monoxide poisoning kills auto occupants without any warning. Most of these poisonings occurred among children and elderly persons and resulted from exposures in idling automobiles with exhaust pipes blocked by snow. Carbon monoxide can't be seen, heard, or smelled, but can easily enter a car and cause a host of health problems. Install a carbon monoxide detector in the vehicle. Carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million (ppm). Levels sustained at 70 ppm can cause headache, fatigue, and nausea. At concentrations of 150 to 200 ppm, expect disorientation, unconsciousness, or death.

I am very thankful for being chosen to be part of this challenge.

Thank you very much for our sponsors, Hammond Manufacturing and the element14 Community.

Dale Winhold