Vehicle crash detection and ambulance call

The problem

In serious crashes, the time between impact and the ambulance's arrival is the first factor in survival. The problem is that calling for help depends on a witness passing by chance, or on the injured person, who often can't call. Even when a call is made, describing the exact location on a highway is hard. The system removes the dependence on witnesses: the vehicle itself reports the crash with precise coordinates within seconds.

How it works

1. MonitoringThe accelerometer and gyroscope unit reads the vehicle's motion dozens of times per second.
2. DetectionExceeding a sudden-acceleration threshold, combined with a rollover or a complete stop, counts as a crash.
3. Cancel windowA buzzer and countdown give the driver 15 seconds to cancel a false alarm.
4. PositioningThe GPS module captures the exact coordinates at the moment of the crash.
5. ReportA text message with a map link is sent to the registered emergency numbers.
6. FollowingThe location appears on a dashboard that lets the rescue team follow the case.

Project features

• It addresses a real time gap between the crash and the response — a clear strength in front of the committee.
• The cancel window shows that false alarms were considered, not just the ideal case.
• It works over SMS, so it doesn't depend on internet coverage on desert roads.
• It can be demonstrated live by shaking the unit hard and watching the message arrive.
• It can be linked with the smart traffic light project to create a complete ambulance corridor.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• Telling a crash from a speed bump or hard braking is the hardest part of the project.
• The acceleration threshold differs by vehicle and how the unit is mounted.
• GPS accuracy drops under bridges and in tunnels.
• The unit's power must be guaranteed after the crash, as the vehicle battery may be cut on impact.
• Sending a false report to a real emergency service carries responsibility, so clear safeguards are needed.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.

Expected committee questions

Prepare your answers in advance: these questions come up often in defenses of similar projects.

1. How was the acceleration value that counts as a crash determined, and how is it told apart from a bump or hard braking?
2. What happens if there's no GPS or network coverage at the crash site?
3. How do you make sure the unit keeps working if the vehicle's power is cut during the crash?
4. Why were text messages chosen over the internet to send the report?

Practice the defense, question by question