Safety Through Innovation

Mason Bradley (CARERC Student) is a current master’s student in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His research is focused on developing embedded electronic systems that improve the safety and functionality of small-scale agricultural machines. His current research efforts are focused on the development of an Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM).  The goal of the IPDM is to introduce advanced safety features similar to those found on larger pieces of equipment to garden and utility tractors as well as other smaller pieces of equipment. The IPDM accomplishes this while minimizing its overall physical footprint on the vehicle by integrating the safety electronics into the fuse block. Safety features for this device include a new ignition interlock architecture, digital sensing of emergency engine kill switches, an integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU), and electronically controllable circuits with integrated current sensing.

  The new ignition interlock architecture allows for digital sensing of all interlock switch states and features a bi-directional override that allows the IPDM’s microcontroller to override the ignition circuit in emergency situations. The emergency engine kill switches can also be sensed by the IPDM which allows the device to use the electronically controllable circuits to switch off components which could introduce additional hazards in emergency situations, such as an electric fuel pump, electric motor, etc. The engine kill circuit can also be overridden by the IPDM’s microcontroller as well, allowing for the engine to be automatically killed if the device detects an emergency situation. Six of the twelve fused circuits found on the IPDM are electronically controllable and feature current sensing which allows the device to know how much current the devices on those circuits are consuming. This data can be used to sense current spikes/overloads and if the device that power is being supplied to is degrading. Finally, the IMU features both an accelerometer and a gyroscope. This data can be used to analyze the driving habits of the operator and potentially detect catastrophic events such as rollovers and collisions. So far, the first hardware prototype of the IPDM has been developed. Firmware for collecting all measurements from the device's peripherals as well as enabling all override features has been developed as well. Future work includes finalizing the device’s firmware and creating a model to utilize the IMU’s measurements to detect rollovers.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

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