Initial Research and Presentation - 27/03/15

Upon researching for the initial presentation this week, the task at hand has gotten much clearer.  The lane departure system project will be done in 3 stages.  The first stage is to plan and design a schematic through software programs such as Fritz and Multisim.  The second stage is to produce and build the project in a small scale such as using an remote-controlled vehicle and simulating the experiment.  The last part of the project is to finally implement the project in an actual vehicle to be tested in a controlled setting to prove the concept can work.

Currently, our main struggle is what sensor direction we would take, whether in a camera-based, photo-sensor, inductive sensor, or a GPS based system.  However, after speaking to our technical advisor, we learned a few things with regards to our current shortlist.  The inductive route may work but we have to consider health effects of using such a component because people with pacemakers are not able to have this sort of system in place.

Meanwhile, the GPS-based system had the question of whether it can detect lane to lane departures accurately.  The photo-sensor idea would not be so feasible either because if we used a higher resistance light dependent resistor (LDR), it would change resistances too slowly and will be sluggish.  The lane departure system must be quick in response as its aim is to aid the driver in life or death situations.  Conversely, if a lower rated LDR would be too sensitive to the noise of the environment, picking up many unnecessary signals which render it just as inaccurate as the higher rated LDR.

The likely feasible option currently is to use a camera based system where a facial/object recognition software can be implemented to detect road markings or reflectors.  This could be much more accurate and provide a quicker response to alert the driver should he or she stray from the lane.  More research is currently being conducted in this route.

Meanwhile, other potential sensors have not been ruled out yet as me and my partner are working closely with one of our advisors in sourcing an electrical sensors book that could shed some more light to whether there are more sensors that could be used in this project.