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Authors
Lusso, R.; Jensen, M.; Walters, E.; Wagner, J.; Alexander, K.

Identifier
10.3182/20070820-3-US-2918.00040

Index Terms
driver warning systems,driver assistance,control architectures

Abstract
The entrapment of humans and animals in stationary automobiles can lead to heat stroke and death, especially for young children and infants. The introduction of an occupant warning system would significantly reduce the occurrence of fatal entrapment. In this paper, a smart monitoring system will be integrated into a child safety seat and interfaced with its accompanying vehicle. The primary function of this device is to offer a warning if the child restraint contains an occupant, interior temperature is elevated, and the elapsed time within the automobile approaches a dangerous threshold. Specifically, an occupant detector circuit built into the child restraint certifies the presence of a passenger while a sensor monitors cabin temperature. Using an automobile's interior temperature profile, the system is capable of accurately determining the level of danger presented to entrapped passengers. This ensures that the smart child restraint system can decisively activate warning and rescue devices such as hazard lights, horn, power windows, seat fan, and tele-communication equipment. To assist in system calibration efforts, summer weather testing has been completed to explore cabin heating transients.

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