As part of the Regional Call "Industrial Research and / or Experimental Development in Advanced Manufacturing Systems - 2008", has developed a Guide to Aid Disabled in collaboration with the DIMEC and DISMIC departments of the Polytechnic of Turin
Acronym: ASK
Title: Innovative Including auxiliary steering knob activation function for vehicle drivers with disabilities
Subject Leader: PEGASO s.r.l.
Project partners:
PEGASO s.r.l.
Polytechnic of Turin - Department of Mechanics (DIMEC)
Polytechnic of Turin - Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering (DISMIC)
Responsible Research: Silvio CORINO
Start date: January 7, 2009
Scheduled end date: October 7, 2010
CONTENT
Abstract of the project
The project aims to develop an innovative auxiliary device drivers with disabilities (particularly people with one arm), which enables them to activate the wipers, turn signals, headlights, hazard lights, windscreen washers and horn without leaving the steering wheel.
The device consists of a unit of user interface, positioned within a handle and a central unit located near the steering column, the first unit receives the user then sends the information through a wireless radio frequency, the second, which is connected to the vehicle via a CAN or LIN communication line, thus avoiding alterations of the vehicle wiring. The central unit then translates user requests into messages on the communication bus to the trigger nodes.
The handle is integrated with a biometric sensor, based on nanotechnology, which can detect the state of health of the driver, warning of a possible dangerous situation.
Research objectives
In this project we will develop a knob that can be easily mounted on the steering wheel of a vehicle and can be fully utilized, in complete safety, a person with one arm. On its surface will be integrated tactile buttons appropriate to permit the monitoring of a variety of secondary devices, such as turn signals, lights, emergency lights, wipers, washers, defrosters and, last but not least, radio functions and air-conditioning.
Such a result is achieved by providing tactile knob 5-6 buttons, each of them can be used in combination with others to achieve multiple functions, according to a combinational logic. In this way, the driver, after an initial training aimed at making instinctive movements of his fingers on the keys, secondary devices can use the main knob and leave without ever having full control of the vehicle.
The knob will be an integrated biometric sensor for monitoring vital functions of the driver. The quantity, type and complexity of the monitored parameters will be evaluated during the project, according to their importance and cost, which shall not exceed that of the knob. The sensor has limited size and mass, low response time, high sensitivity and selectivity, require low power operation and will be able to send data to the microprocessor. A set of characteristics that can only be achieved through a nanotechnological approach.
An important objective of the project is the ability to easily connect the device to the vehicle (by means of disconnection and reconnection of a single connector), thus avoiding substantial changes in the wiring (during set-up standards will be identified and intercepted a cable to each function), potential problems with on-board diagnostics and enabling you to reduce the preparation time.
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