Multiple Child Tracker

1
Multiple Child Tracker
Introduction
Project Requirements
Abstract Keeping multiple children safe and
accounted for can be a daunting task. When
someone loses track of a child, even for a little
while, anxiety levels rise greatly. This project
will develop a device to be worn by a child that
will monitor certain conditions and a device that
will be used by the childs caretaker to alert
them if the child is possibly in danger due to
the certain conditions. These devices could
drastically reduce caretaker-stress and improve
child-safety.

• Design Objectives
• Track children within an adjustable distance
  from the base station
• Alert caretaker when a child is in a dangerous
  situation
• Functional Requirements
• Caretaker unit must be able to determine which
  child is in danger
• Warning alarms will sound on both caretaker and
  child modules
• Base unit can be attached to caretaker unit to
  be used as a portable system

• Design Constraints
• Must be easy to set-up and operate
• Must accurately trigger warnings within one
  second of incident
• Devices must not cause physical discomfort or
  harm
• Milestones
• Design completion
• End-unit implementation
• Testing
• Documentation

Problem Statement Current devices to track
children are too limited in their functionality.
While they may detect a child that has wandered
away too far from a parent, they do not alert the
parent to other dangers, such as a child falling
into water. Operating Environment The devices
will be designed to operated outside, under
normal environmental conditions conditions that
would not be unsafe for children. Intended
Users The intended users will be caretakers who
wish to monitor one or more children and those
children being monitored. Intended Uses The
system will be used to safeguard children from
wandering too far away from a caretaker and
encountering certain dangers, such as falling
into water.
Resources Schedule
Use Case Diagram BASE Communicating with other
modules CHILD 1 Within the acceptable proximity
(NO ALARM) CHILD 2 Outside the acceptable
proximity (ALARM) CHILD 3 In water
(ALARM) CARETAKER Two module-specific alarms
triggered

• Assumptions
• Devices should be easy to set up and operate
• System may be expandable to alert to other
  dangers
• Limitations
• Batteries should last for at least one hour
• Devices must be small and comfortable enough so
  as to be worn without causing pain or
  discomfort
• One child tracking system should not interfere
  with another tracking system
• Project Deliverables
• Functional caretaker and child modules and base
  station
• Users guide and technical documentation

Project Schedule This chart (Above) outlines the
schedule of the major tasks of this project.
Project Cost This chart (Left) displays the
estimated cost of this project.
Proposed Approach
Closing Summary

• The team will create an expandable system that
  will be portable enough to travel with a family,
  yet versatile enough to alert to different
  dangers to children. A stationary base unit will
  communicate with multiple child units and warn a
  caretaker unit if one of the children is out of
  range or in danger.
• Technological Approaches Considered
• GPS Resolution not small enough for accurate
  tracking
• Local Positioning System (Triangulate childs
  position with three or more base
  stations) Not portable enough to be useful
• Radio Distance Measuring
• Testing Considerations
• Communication testing between devices
• Distance measurement testing
• Water sensors component testing
• Full system testing

Although there is no substitute for good
childcare, which would include constant
monitoring, the reality is that constant
monitoring of children is not feasible,
especially when a caretaker must monitor multiple
children at the same time. When it comes to
something as important as the safety of children,
having another safeguard is a welcome assistance
to any caretaker. The similar products on the
market, that do provide some of this assistance,
do not have all the functionality that this
project will provide.
May 05-24 Team Information
Team Members Benjamin Flessner CprE Allan
Hammell CprE Iwin Lee CprEHua Shao EE
ClientSenior Design
Faculty AdvisorDr. Diane Rover
Websitehttp//seniord.ee.iastate.edu/may0524/