Designing a Personal Protection Device

A Taser or real firearm provides a much more timely and effective response.

emc_c

Perhaps but unfortunately those are banned in the UK, including pepper sprays.

weewoo

what about a slungshot (not a misspelling, not a slingshot). A monkey fist is an easy knot to learn. A loop in one end to secure around the wrist and a monkey fist in the other end with lead shot in a baloon in the center, or alternately a cluster of lead fishing weights forms a highly effective knockout tool, even in the hands of someone seemingly vulnerable.

Warning, manufacture of slungshots, such as the aforementioned is illegal in places like florida. said implement is a concealed weapon here too...

Benbenben

why not use bluetooth technology so it would work with existing mobile phone? this would make more sense assuming people have a phone with them.

Designing a new phone module will be well beyond your abilities, budget and timescale. Your best bet is to design an interface to an existing phone. If you use a custom radio link you will need to to integrate the receiver to the phone which will have its own challenges.

If I were doing it I would look at Bluetooth to communicate with an existing phone. Even that has difficulties, the Bluetooth technology is patented and the use of it requires that the system be be certified as Bluetooth compliant. This costs a 5 figure sum.

A work around I have used to is to strip an existing Bluetooth device and re-use the PCB within a new device. An obvious candidate is a hands free phone adapter, many of which will trigger the phone to auto-dial a preset number.

I'm a bit confused now... My initial idea was to use bluetooth technology... But I went to speak to an electronics lecturer at my university and he advised me to use radio transmitters as they are easier to implement and cheaper as well. He said bluetooth is a lot more complex to use..but he didn't have the right knowledge to advise me on the mobile phone communication side of things. HELP!

I'm not proposing to build a mobile phone myself... I think at the end of this project what I want to achieve is to demonstrate, with a dummy model of the technology involved... So I would have, hopefully, working components of the transmitter from the alarm device which sends off a signal to a receiver (in a dummy phone) and show that the ''phone'' has successfully received the signal and will then automatically make a call or send off a message. As well as demonstrating the technology inside of the device I have also been working on the aesthetics and form of the wristband so hopefully I will make a prototype to show the looks of the end product.

weewoo

sorry, I can't technically contribute to this, but just an OT remark that perhaps the device or system should not be called a "Protection Device" because it does nothing of that sort. perhaps an "Emergency Alert Device" would be more appropriate for it.

just my thoughts. it's a great idea, BTW. good luck!

Thanks, I totally agree with you there! I haven't really given much thought as to the name of my product yet but it's definitely not a protection device but an emergency alert device.

I think in your case the bluetooth means would be the best approach utilizing the hands free capablilities. Here in the US we have life alert though I believe these utilize a receiver connected to a phone, so it would not work that way out on the street, it would have to utilize mobile technology and you could use a bluetooth compliant device modified for this purpose. Though why not have a bluetooth earpiece so you can voice dial emergency help if you were attacked? just my observations though.

Attacker is always ahead of defender; Criminal is also ahead of Police; Law breakers as well ...

A simple modification to voice dial or saved numbers can have a panic button activate a 911 call. If the cell is gps, the location is transmitted. If the cell is not gps, the user would have to remember to include location in the call. Sort of a "I'm at First and Main, why are you bothering me" type of thing. 911 is smart enough to know that not all people on the line are free to conduct a normal call, they always respond cops to the location to see what is happening.

To get really fancy, the phone could transmit a photo of the attacker to 911. "I have just transmitted your photo to the police" could give an attacker pause.

Q: isn't voice dialing recommended only for quiet surroundings?

Hi. Langyaw, my son passed thru Dubai, just loved it. I think the new city is great, will be a landmark.

I haven't used voice dialing too much, but I think it concentrates on the strongest signal. Actually for this use, 'saved numbers' is probably better. Voice dialing wants me to repeat the word, that's not good for this situation. We want this device to work like the alarms sold for people at home, just push a button and help is contacted.

I expect this option would have to be designed in a new phone, not an aftermarket add-on. Phones are just too small for adding extra buttons and circuits. In the design, the button would have to be placed so false alarms don't happen.

Just a couple thoughts:

I would NOT alert a criminal that I just sent his picture to authorities - ever - for any reason!!!! Punitive damages may result, and/or you just ratcheted an assault into a murder.

I would never have any sort of an audible that would let the criminal know authorities are on the way that is automatically activated. See reason above. I also would certainly not have an audible warning that would let anyone know authorities are about to be contacted! That would surely bring great wrath in an attempt to disarm the device before the cops get there. The only place that is appropriate is in a very public place - where good people would react in a positive fashion (certainly not New York City). If there is only 2 people to hear the warning, one will be dead and one will be running down the street with a new purse and a smile on his face. It always takes time for the cops to get there, and careful thoughtful stalling is the best course of action until they do get there.

If an assinine, short-sighted government sees fit to disarm the population from all firearms and pepper-sprays - then won't respond to any and all emergency calls with a smile on their face and swift retribution for the perpretrators, then a coup needs to be effected immediately and the government needs to be ousted!

Your idea has great merit, but I would not worry too much about false triggers. Better a cop stops you while you are chatting with friends, than he does not show when you are being mugged, raped, or worse.

Have a two-step triggering device like a pepper-blaster or a safety like a gun.

Then start considering moving to a country that allows firearm freedom. It would be a great accessory to a concealed carry and proper training. Make sure you bring any females you love with you, because they don't have much hope for a long and happy life in a country where the criminals know there is no immediate retribution available to slow them down. Just as smokers don't worry about cancer, the criminal has more fear of an immediate bullet than he does a jail sentence IF he gets caught. The 1-2 combo of a firearm and a calling device would make sure that the perp IS caught, and might make him found prone with his hands up and/or a steaming wound while your loved one is catching their breath sitting on the curb. Not a good day, but also not the last one of their life!

The situation you find yourself in, WeeWoo, is what keeps me awake at night with the president we now have. Hopefully common sense will continue to prevail, and he will remain unable to accomplish any of his goals. If he is able to disarm us as he plans, we will be in your situation here, and I will have to find a new country to move to.

Well said!

If you do ever go to market, I'd strongly suggest that you drop the sexist reference to, "vulnerable females". I'd just leave it at, "a personal attack alarm". Good luck.

Hi thanks for all your help and comments. Yes, I did hesitate a bit when writing 'vulnerable females' does sound sexist but for the aim of my university project I had to be user specific... And I guess if the product does work then I don't see why there should be any reason for it not to go into a wider market- males, elderly, children...

I grew up and still living in a place where people are not legally allowed to have possession of firearms... I guess different cultures, different views. But I personally would feel more fearful knowing anyone could be in possession of a gun especially ones with potential to abuse it.

Anyway, I'm still continuing to work on the bluetooth technology etc with the advice provided by you all... Hopefully I'll be able to make progress with my project!

Best of luck with it and, perhaps, a true "get rich" product. In a country where the criminals (who will always get firearms) don't have any fear of their prey having the tools to defend themselves - you are going to need it.

I think your product has superb potential. Just don't let the perpetrator of the crime know the cops are on the way until they get there. That is a gamble with life I would not want on my concience.

I also agree with the avoidance of specifying my marketing just for women. However, I would offer a option in PINK right out of the gates, and I would advertize amongst the fairer sex heavily. They are natural prey - especially where there is no equalizer available to the general populace.

Here in the wild west, where I live, anyone who is not a convicted felon can carry a sidearm or rifle in public without ANY type of permit or license.

In the City Hall of our town, there are pistol storage vaults for public use. So, if I am packing heat and want to stop in and say hi to the mayor, I don't have to leave it in my pick-up truck.

And about the only requirements for getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon (CCW) in Arizona are:

1. No Felonies.

2. Ability to breathe on one's own.

3. $60.00 for the "course" that allows you to hide your weapon.

4. Ability to sign one's own name.

Go figure.