1. Emergency Child Guidance System The goal of this project is to design, build, test, and document a child emergency guidance system. The system will sense an audible output from a smoke detector to help guide children between the ages of 2-8 years to safety during a home fire. This system will help reduce the number of deaths during home fires. General Background Use a pre-recorded parent’s voice and set of lights to direct the child to safety Activate the system from smoke detector output Instruct child to touch the first light Activate a recording to guide the child through a path of lights Technical Approach Smoke detector’s signal will activate the transmitter which controls the entire system Battery-powered light receives signal from the system transmitter A series of “touch lights” provide a path for the child to follow by emitting a recording Recording plays through speakers mounted in the lights Customers record their message using a microphone, speakers, and recording device Team Members (May01-03) Client / Advisors Project Website Abbey Arends CprE Christopher Bloomquist CprE Lisa DeLashmutt CprE Karen James CprE Angela Nystrom EE Dr. John Lamont Dr. Ralph Patterson III The device will need to be tested for several conditions: Interaction between the smoke detector and the transmitter Response of the children to the voice and lights Evaluation through beta, environmental, stress, and psychological tests Operating Environment The components will need to operate under: Extreme heat Water Intended Users and Uses The product targets the general public with 2-8 year old children inhabiting a home. The system will calmly communicate to the child during a fire, directing the child to safety. Assumptions and Limitations In order for the product to function properly: Design Objectives Functional Requirements Design Constraints Total Projected Hours: 522 Total Projected Budget: $130 Abstract Introduction The end product contains a system designed to guide a 2-8 year old child to safety during a fire. The transmitter will receive a signal from the generic smoke detector that will activate the lights and speakers. The system will project a customized recorded voice over the speakers mounted in the lights. Design Requirements End Product Description Testing Approach Effort and Financial Budgets Project Information 1) Smoke Detected: Smoke detector is triggered and sends a signal to activate the Emergency Child Guidance System (ECGS). 3) Lights & Sounds: Touch lights receive a signal from the ECGS to turn on and play a message to direct the child to safety. Home Fire Facts: The most common location for household fires is the kitchen. Stoves account for 75% of kitchen fires. An estimated 15,000 - 20,000 people are injured in home fires each year. Nearly 4,000 Americans are killed from home fires annually, which is more than all natural disasters combined. 4) Child is Safe: The ECGS successfully guides the child to safety, by showing the safest escape route. Low light placement keeps the child below intoxicating fumes. 2) System Activated: The ECGS is activated. It sends a signal to all the lights to turn on and play the recorded message. Multiple escape routes will be provided. The customer will need to have a working smoke detector installed The success of the system depends on the reliability of the smoke detector The smoke detector and system must be checked regularly for adequate battery power At any point during the fire, it will be impossible to prevent the device from burning The child may not respond to the voice or light guidance The device is not guaranteed to save the child’s life Learn the functions, operations, and features of the household smoke detector Research fire departments, smoke detector companies, child psychologists Finalize the design specifications Explore microcontroller and power supply options to select those suitable for the system Assure compatible interface between the transmitter, receivers and smoke detector Write operating C program code for the microcontroller Complete the design of the speakers and recording device and implement the design Test, debug, and finalize the operation of the system Document and present to Individual Review Panel Battery-powered transmitter mounted on the ceiling Recording device allows user to record a customized message Speakers emit the parent’s recorded message Temperature – The whole system must operate under extremely high temperatures Water – The entire system must be waterproof Power – The whole system must operate under power outages Lightweight – The transmitter and lights must be able to stay mounted on the walls Durability – To withstand volatile fire conditions, the system must be durable Lights – The lights will be installed on the wall, approximately one foot from the floor Measurable Milestones Power loss Explosions Smoke detector’s signal will activate the transmitter which controls the rest of the system Recording plays through speakers mounted in the lights http://seniord.ee.iastate.edu/may0103 Acknowledgements Special thanks to the 2 nd shift of the Ames Fire Department for all their help.