Occupancy Sensor for Automobiles

AI with a camera and microphone could differentiate between animals and children, and monitor conditions in the car, and call your cellphone for safety check....with no response within a certain time then set off an alarm ...and possibly 911 call, after the technology has proven accurate....

Alexa watch the kids...OK master, er,, mommybear...

Would it also open the doors or windows? Would that not be a security risk if triggered by the sun, by any other heat source?

Isn't it too much to ask not to leave dogs and kids in the car? What can you lose, well your dog or kid?

I think there is a strong incentive by its own. How much do we want to dumb down the people with technology?

And saying that I locked my kids in the car the other day, since they did not want to go in that one shop. When I came back they were quite red in the face and I asked why they did not open the doors or windows. To my surprise the car doors could not be opened from inside neither could the windows.

There is something wrong with that. Any other car I was capable of opening from inside no problem, but not that one.

Since then my kids and I know that the head rest is retrievable because it is acting as a emergency breaking device for the windows!

Something to learn every day!

To my surprise the car doors could not be opened from inside neither could the windows.

Many cars have a child door lock feature with a switch on the back doors (near the latch mechanism) that you can disable. That will allow the child to open the doors.

Howdy,

this was not the issue. You cant even unlock the car from the front seats if someone locks it with the key.

Sealed tight, no way out!

Well, they have an occupancy sensor for the passenger side air bag, so its not that far out.

Here's and idea, instead of dumbing down our society even more with government regulations or features... the problem it's self should be addressed as to the driver of the car, who has full responsibility of the passengers, whether he/she is driving or not... ^{abandon the younger passengers or animals to leave to do some quick shopping, or quae semper}

As far as dumbing down, for some, it may be to late... they're already there and waiting for direction to be told what to do next.

For others who do require because of their lack of responsibility and for the safety of their passengers, it should be similar to an on-star, were the police are called.

With the threat of consequences of possible incarceration, I bet a lot the problems are quickly resolved where there is no longer issues.

Yes, accidents happen I'm glad you shared your experience, and I'm sure there are more story's like that.

As far as contacting the police, keep in mind, that's said with tonque in cheek...

here's two examples...

And with that in mind, the on-star system with the geo tracking system, Notifying the police, things could have changed differently for this child...

Or things that are not accidents, like this child. Since the vehicle already is displaying environmental data, This is where consequences are applied to. It will may make people think about consequences of their actions.

on a different note but similar topic, one of the best accessory I think, is the back-up camera on a vehicle.

I figured that was tongue-in-cheek, but be careful, someone will probably run with your idea.

Well, if someone's going to run with it,... I'd also like cup of coffee,... with cream.

Then I'd have to think about if its safe to drink.

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT

Until the government decides on how to respond to this epidemic, sometimes referred to as TDS, that a section of the populist is experiencing, this Government Mandate is issued.

Each household is required to have one live parrot for such an emergency. There is no exceptions.

Thank you!

Great apps!

My car already has one. If I leave my wife in the car while I briefly disappear, she has to sit very still, or she will trigger the car alarm. It's the function of the intrusion detector.

I found out, when I leave the car,... and lock it, while my girlfriend dallies around before getting out, after a period, when she does get out, opens the door, the alarm goes off.

I don't know if movement does it, I don't think so.

That wouldn't work with my wife, she can't keep her mouth from moving and no, it's not a medical condition.

Bazzer

A proximity sensor, I have them in my van, if I leave the window open & someone puts their hand in the alarm sounds, same if I shut the doors & lock a fly in the alarm sounds, I'm sure we've all heard alarms sounding when someone leaves a dog in a car, these are standard on most alarms.

Bazzer

alarms going off in a parking lot is pretty typical as well as pretty much ignored by everyone.

Like this?

How about a pressure switch activated RFID device in the child's car seat that alarms on your phone if you move out of range?

What about a wearable baby monitor that monitors the heart rate, skin temperature, and other vitals, calls your phone when set parameters are breached...including proximity and location...

https://smartwatches.org/fitness/top-10-wearables-for-your-baby/

Not a bad idea to have a tracker on your kids, no matter the age....haha

Maybe the car should just be able to keep the interior temperature within a safe range and do so, should it sense occupants. Only when conditions are approaching the limits of a safe range should alarms and automatic opening be triggered.

Being able to lock yourself in a vehicle without alarms going off and without the doors/windows automatically opening seems like a desireable feature.

Well if the car is parked in a closed garage not a good idea for it to start up on its own...so there's that....

If it is in a closed garage, keeping temperatures within a safe range typically won't require that much...so engine start up can probably be avoided.

i suppose sensors to monitor atmosphere could be included.....but then what is to be done if (non driving) occupants are sensed in a parked car and the outside air is dangerous? Driverless motion in hopes of reaching safe air?

This is getting really expensive.

To me, this is a non-starter: "Maybe the car should just be able to keep the interior temperature within a safe range and do so, should it sense occupants." If you are suggesting that vehicles spontaneously start when parked anywhere, and occupied, that seems counterintuitive. If I encountered any running vehicle, occupied by a small child, I'd call PD immediately and be formulating a plan to break a window if no adult came forward.

And don't cars allow you to lock yourself in without alarms going off and without the doors/windows automatically opening now?

I mentioned keeping the temperature within safe limits. A process involving starting an ic engine is not the only way to control temperature.

In the discussion above suggestions are made about sensing occupant in a parked car and automatic actions that might be programed. Unlocking the car and setting off an alarm came up.

I don't desire this type of additional safeguard, but perhaps there is a need for it.

Yes, that's getting expensive.

Well it would be an easy fix in a Tesla since the car is already full of sensors and it is already talking to Tesla and to your Phone (if you have the app). Even better, the car could, upon detecting a presence, turn on the camera and send the image to your phone (since many pay more attention to their phone than their kids) and turn on the heat or AC as needed without ever having to start an IC engine or even active the car.

Time to fire off an email to Elon...

The technology exists, it simply needs an economic reason to implement it. If it doesn't make a profit it doesn't make it.

Just like cell phone usage, the tech exists to prevent the cell phone from connecting while in a vehicle that is turned on and in motion. As is often the case, we have a solution already, we just don't have the economic incentive to do it. Small problem with market based systems.

I raised two children to adulthood and never once "forgot" I was a father. Not sure how that happens.

My wife and I locked our child in the car once. The keys were in the front seat; toddler seat-belted in back. We couldn't get him to work the lock himself, so we had to call the police. It happens to the best of us.

But how is a car supposed to know there is a life form in the backseat who shouldn't be there just then, and why not, because other times it's OK, like when you're working the gas pump?

You need a sensor on the kid to alert you, something like a Fit-bit or a smart car seat that knows it is occupied and the air temperature in his/her environment is in the danger zone. I don't think that is overdoing it. There are sensor systems that phone you when the water is too high in your sump pit.

My EX was superb at locking her keys and the children in the car.

One time, she got out of the car.... which was still in a travel lane with traffic because she heard a "noise" coming from the engine area. Like she was going to know what it was, she knew enough about cars to open the door and sometimes put fuel in them. Now here is the KICKER!!! This was during an ALL OUT downpour of a rainfall event that had water over the curbs of Hollywood Way in Burbank. Here is the scenario..... She is 8 months pregnant and HUGE!! One child in the car, car hood up, still in the traffic lane, vehicle still running in park, BOTH doors locked. She is so lucky that a lady opened her apartment door so she could use the phone. It took me 20 minutes to get there from my work. I was friggin LIVID.... UGH!! I unlocked BOTH doors just in case, kissed my son ... looked at my soon to be EX.... shook my head and went back to work and I did all this while the rain was POURING down in buckets. A proximity sensor will never work for her. She is NON-Sensorable!