International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)

ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-4 Issue-4, April 2015

Design and Fabrication of Black Box for

Automobiles
Ananthakrishnan V.K, R. Vignesh Kumar, C. Jagadeesh Vikram, C. Thamotharan

Abstract— The research paper is been developed in order to According to the World Health Organization, more than a
record informational data, such as engine, vehicle speed and its million people in the world die each year because of
temperature, etc. to revolutionize the field of motor vehicle transportation-related accidents. In order to react to this
accident investigation. It can be also used for vehicle mapping
and accident alert with the help of GPS and GSM technology.
situation, the black box system draws the first step to solve
This paper is designed with the use of embedded systems. problem. Like flight data recorders in aircraft, "Black Box”
Embedded systems are playing important role in our lives every technology can now play a key role in motor vehicle crash
day, even though they might not necessarily be visible. An investigations. A significant number of vehicles currently on
embedded system can be defined as a control system or computer the roads contain electronic systems that record in the event
system designed to perform a specific task and also be defined as of a crash. That is why it is so important to have recorders
a single purpose computer. Some of the embedded systems we use
every day are menu control system on television, the timer in a
that objectively track what goes on in vehicles before,
microwave oven and so on with some amount of intelligence during and after a crash as a complement to the one used.
built-in. An embedded system contains at least one Subjective input that is taken usually from victims, eye
microprocessor which performs the logic operations for the witnesses and police reports. By implementing the system
system. Many embedded systems use one or more crash investigation can be taken to a higher level in which
microcontrollers, in the type of microprocessor that emphasizes proper cause of the crash can be revealed. Automotive
self-sufficiency and cost-effectiveness, instead of a general-
purpose microprocessor. A typical microcontroller contains
electronics simply known as Autotronics play an important
sufficient memory and interfaces for simple applications. This role in bringing Black Box technology to automobiles. This
device is used to identify that flow of information at the near- unique system is mainly committed to two sections. The
crash situation the information so obtained are of immense use to first one is how to detect and collect the information from
diagnose the causes of impending accident that gives subtle the vehicle. The second is how to present the data to the user
information for a crime investigation. Also with the introduction in a simplified way. To implement the first section many
of this novel designs there is an ample scope to distinguish the
erring drivers from the rest. Presently the most manufacturers of
components and various types of sensors are used. While the
automobiles have introduced a good number of safety devices second section was implementing by using a USB module in
and in conjunction with safety devices, this device articulated by which the data can be stored with the help of a pen drive or
the present researcher may complements the entire safety memory stick with which logged data obtained. There are
mechanism thoroughly. In India the introduction of this device in two main parts for this system. One is to record speed,
the novel and innovative attempt by the researcher. temperature, time and location of your car and second one
Keywords —Vehicle Black box technology, GPS tracking
will help to retrieve exactly what happened during the crash
device, Microcontroller, Data storage device. from the data stored in hard drive.

I. INTRODUCTION II. HARDWARE ASSETS

Advanced countries like USA are currently implementing (a) TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Black box technology statutorily in all automobiles as the The LM35 series are precision integrated-circuit
safe and secure travel to the passengers becomes the motto temperature sensors, whose output voltage is linearly
of the Government. These car black boxes only records proportional to the Celsius (Centigrade) temperature. The
important information such as vehicle speed, temperature, LM35 thus has an advantage over linear temperature sensors
location constantly. The data recorded by car black box is calibrated in ° Kelvin, as the user is not required to subtract
help full for better car crash investigation and crash a large constant voltage from its output to obtain convenient
management. The researcher feels that the development of Centigrade scaling. The LM35 does not require any external
Black Box for automobiles may go long way to serve the calibration or trimming to provide typical accuracies of
travelling public to destinations in safer mode. ±1⁄4°C at room temperature and ±3⁄4°C over a full −55 to
+150°C temperature range. Low cost is assured by trimming
Manuscript Received on April 2015.
Ananthakrishnan V.K., M.Tech Student, Department of Automobile and calibration at the wafer level. The LM35’s low output
Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Bharath impedance, linear output, and precise inherent calibration
University, Chennai, India. make interfacing to readout or control circuitry especially
R. Vignesh Kumar, M.Tech Student, Department of Automobile
Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Bharath
easy. It can be used with single power supplies, or with plus
University, Chennai, India. and minus supplies. As it draws only 60 µA from its supply,
C. Jagadeesh Vikram, Assistant Professor, Department of Automobile it has very low self-heating, less than 0.1°C in still air. The
Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology. Bharath
LM35 is rated to operate over a −55° to +150°C temperature
University, Chennai, India.
C. Thamotharan, Professor, Department of Automobile Engineering, range, while the LM35C is rated for a −40° to +110°C range
Bharath Institute of Science and Technology. Bharath University, Chennai, (−10° with improved accuracy).
India.

Published By:
118 Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
& Sciences Publication Pvt. Ltd.
 Design and Fabrication of Black Box for Automobiles

(b) PIEZO-ELECTRIC SENSOR microcontrollers. All the functions required for the dot
matrix display are internally provided. Internal refresh is
Piezo-electric sensor is a device used to sense the collision.
provided by the display module. The CMOS technology
Piezo-electric sensor produces a high voltage DC current
makes the device ideal For applications in hand held,
during the impact. It uses the piezoelectric effect to measure
portable and other battery powered instruments with low
pressure, acceleration, strain or force by converting them to
power consumptions.
an electrical charge. Piezoelectric effect plays a vital role for
the respective measurements. (h) USB MODULE
(c) IR SENSOR USB module is used to get out put files stored in a pen drive
or external storage device.
The IR sensor is used as a complementary element to ensure
better safety of the passengers travelling in a vehicle.
Though modern high end cars have lane detection and object
detection systems, majority economy class wouldn’t afford
to buy those expensive cars. The IR sensor solves this issue
by implementing it on the economy cars at low cost. This
requires another circuit. IR sensor constantly emits infra red
light and sense the duration of this light to reach the sensor
from other object far away. But when this light hit the
sensor back from the object in a short duration which means
there is an object close to the vehicle and there is a chance
of being hit by the object. Then the provided Buzzer will
sound to notify the driver by beep sound and helps not to hit
the object which can save lives from a possible crash
situation.
(d) GPS RECIEVER
Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites broadcast signals
from space that GPS receivers, use to provide three-
dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus
precise time. GPS receivers provides reliable positioning,
navigation, and timing services to worldwide users on a Fig.1 Block diagram of PIC
continuous basis in all weather, day and night, anywhere on
or near the Earth. Sunrom’s ultra-sensitive GPS receiver can (i) PIC 16F877A
acquire GPS signals from 65 channels of satellites and PIC 16F877A is 40 pin 8 bit CMOS flash microcontroller
output position data with high accuracy in extremely device. Peripheral interface controller been abbreviated as
challenging environments and under poor signal conditions PIC. PIC16F877A is a quite commonly used device for the
due to its active antenna and high sensitivity. The GPS purpose of serial programming in all fields of science. It is a
receiver’s - 160dBm tracking sensitivity allows continuous 40 pin device of operating speed DC - 20MHz clock input
position coverage in nearly all application environments. with Operating voltage range – 2V to 5.5V. It contains
(e) GSM MODEM inherited Flash memory of 8k and Data memory 368 bytes
GSM/GPRS MODEM is a class of wireless modem devices with Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only
and they are designed for communication of a computer Memory (EEPROM) of 5 ports from A to E. It is a high
with the GSM and GPRS network. It requires a SIM speed encoded device and it been utilized for specified
(Subscriber Identity Module) card just like mobile phones to functions for storing multiple attributes with separate codes
activate communication with the network. This system can with unique serials. PIC16F877A is a quite commonly used
feature all the functionalities of a mobile phone through device for the purpose of serial programming with high
computer like making and receiving calls, SMS, MMS etc. compatible features.
the process of communication been performed through
RS232 port and GSM/GPRS module demonstrates the use III. DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVEL
of AT commands. The black box always monitors and stores the informational
(f) BUZZER data from sensors for further use. After a crash, the
Buzzer is an audio signalling device which may be investigating team can actually use this data to get a clear
Mechanical, Electro-mechanical or piezoelectric system. picture of accident scene with the logged data stored in the
Buzzer been used in alarm devices, timers and confirmation data storing device. This makes crash investigation efficient
of user input such as a mouse click or keystroke. Buzzer and accurate. Black box stores the data from various sensors
performs a key role through its audio alert signals. in a pen drive with the help of USB module from sun rom
(g) LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD) technologies. This will help to maintain the data about
vehicle in a logged manner. From this data driving habit of
The LCD module is a dot matrix liquid crystal display that drivers could be found out and that is an important lead in
displays alpha numeric, characters and symbols. The built in crash investigations. The logged data is retrieved by
controller HD44780 and driver LSI’s provide convenient connecting the pen drive/hardware storage device to
connectivity between the dot matrix and most of the computer. The pen drive will contain a file named

Published By:
119 Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
& Sciences Publication Pvt. Ltd.
 International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)
ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-4 Issue-4, April 2015

BLACK.txt which is in .txt extension format. This file

contains all the informational data needed. The black box
stores data because of the program written in PIC
microcontroller. Microcontroller take different inputs in its
pin and produce out put through different pins to store the
data in a pen drive and show the data at real time in a LCD
panel.

IV. RESULTS Fig.5 Logged data from pen drive

(a) Speed Sensing (c) GPS&GSM Technology
Speed is measured by using an electric motor. When electric Whenever an accident occur the black box will store the
motor rotates it generates electricity in its coil like one in data last available before the crash with coordinates of
speedometers. By sensing the amount of electricity location where the vehicle travels. It also sends an SMS to a
produced in poles the microcontroller converts it to what predefined number that set in its memory that the alerting
speed the motor/vehicle wheel spinning. Then this rotation accident happened at the location. When collision occurs the
is converted to KMPH to get the speed of vehicle. This data microcontroller detect it from sensor and as pre-
is stored in hard drive and can be seen in live on LCD. programmed it will sends an SMS alert to the predefined
number with the location coordinates of crash site. With this
system it is highly possible to find the precise location of
crash with ease and thus enables emergency unit to respond
and reach the site within short time.

Fig.2 Real time Speed on LCD

Fig.6 Accident alert and GPS tracking

Fig.3 Logged data from Pen drive

(b) Temperature Sensing
Temperature is an important thing in a vehicle engine. The
engine should be operated in optimum temperature for better
performance and fuel efficiency. Any damage to the cooling
system can lead to abnormal temperature rise in engine this
may lead to engine failure even to the extend to get fire. So
the black box will always records its engine temperature and
shows in LCD display as well as stores in the hard drive. Fig.7 Accident Detection and SMS alert

Fig.4 Real Time Temperature

Fig.8 SMS Alert

Published By:
120 Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
& Sciences Publication Pvt. Ltd.
 Design and Fabrication of Black Box for Automobiles

V. CONCLUSION or other general purpose applications. Microcontrollers are

A full and detailed description was made for every part of used in automatically controlled products and devices, such
this system. This paper has also offered a user friendly as automobile engine control systems, implantable medical
embedded program to analyse the data of the accident. The devices, remote controls, office machines, appliances, power
Black Box system built can be implemented in any vehicle. tools, toys and other embedded systems.
As soon as the driver runs the motor, this system will begin Data Storage device
saving the events of the corresponding vehicle. The black
A data storage device is a device for recording (storing)
box can be fitted in any vehicle for better safety and
information (data). Recording can be done using virtually
management if produced commercially. This prototype
any form of energy, spanning from manual muscle power in
design helps to realise how important it is to have a black
handwriting, to acoustic vibrations in phonographic
box on board of a vehicle.
recording, to electromagnetic energy modulating magnetic
tape and optical discs. A storage device may hold
VI. FUTURE EXPANSIONS
information, process information, or both. A device that
This system can integrated to existing safety control devices only holds information is a recording medium. Devices that
thus reduce cost. Getting all the information to ECU will process information (data storage equipment) may both
help to store all the data related to vehicle’s mechanical, access a separate portable (removable) recording medium or
electrical and electronics systems to black box thus reducing a permanent component to store and retrieve data.
the extra sensors and actuators needed for black box. A
video recording device will help for better overview of REFERENCES
crash. 1. Melgard .TE, G.Lachapelle and H.Gehuer, "GPS Signal Availability in
Keywords-Explained an Urban area- Receiver Performance Analysis", IEEE, 1994, pp.1-3.
2. Grewal et al., Global Positioning Systems, Inertial Navigation and
Vehicle Black box technology Integration, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2001, p.56.
3. Daesik Ko and Hwase Park, "A design of the Intelligent Black-Box
Blackbox is a device installed in some automobiles to record using Mining Algorithm", InternationalJournal of Smart Home, Vol.6,
information related to vehicle crashes or accidents. In No.2, April 2012, pp1-4.
modern diesel trucks, EDRs are triggered by electronically 4. C.Jagadeesh Vikram, “An Implementation of Crash Data Automatic
sensed problems in the engine (often called faults), or a Monitoring System (CDAMS) in Automobiles, International Journal of
Mechanical Engineering (IJME), ISSN 2319-2240, Vol. 2, Issue 1,
sudden change in wheel speed. One or more of these Feb 2013, 103-110 © IASET
conditions may occur because of an accident. Information 5. P.Ajay Kumar Reddy, P.Dileep Kumar et al., “Blackbox for Vehicles”
from these devices can be collected after a crash and International Journal of Engineering Inventions, and ISSN: 2278-7461,
www.ijeijournal.com, Volume 1, Issue 7(October2012) PP: 06-12
analyzed to help determine what the vehicles were doing 6. Dae Geun Lee, Se Myoung Jung , Myoung Seob Lim, ―System on
before, during and after the crash or event. The term Chip design of Embedded Controller for Car Black Boxǁ, Intelligent
generally refers to a simple, tamper-proof, read-write Vehicles Symposium IEEE, Istanbul, 13-15 June 2007, pp 1174-1177,
Print ISBN : 1-4244-1067-3, DOI : 10.1109/IVS.2007.4290277.
memory device, similar to the "black box" found on 7. Liewei Jiang, Chunxuan Yu, ―Design and Implementation of Car
airplanes (as opposed to the tape recorders and video Black Box Based on Embedded Systemǁ, International Conference on
cameras common in police vehicles and many commercial Electrical and Control Engineering, Wuhan, 25-27 June 2010, pp 3537
–3539, Print ISBN: 978-1-4244-6880-5, DOI:
trucks). 10.1109/iCECE.2010.860.
GPS Tracking Device 8. Chulhwa Hong, Truong Le, Kangsuk Chae, and Souhwan Jung,
―Evidence Collection from Car Black Boxes using Smartphonesǁ,
A GPS tracking unit is a device that uses the Global IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference, Las
Vegas, NV, pp 836 – 837, Print ISBN: 978-1-4244-8789-9, DOI :
Positioning System to determine the precise location of a 10.1109/CCNC.2011.5766619.
vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and to 9. Lilia Filipova-Neumann, Peter Welzel, ―Reducing asymmetric
record the position of the asset at regular intervals. The information in insurance markets: Cars with black boxesǁ, Telematics
and Informatics, 2010, pp 394-403, DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2010.03.003.
recorded location data can be stored within the tracking unit,
10. Dheeraj Pawar, Pushpak Poddar, ―Car Black Box with Speed Control
or it may be transmitted to a central location data base, or in Desired Areas for Collision Avoidanceǁ, ETASR - Engineering,
internet-connected computer, using a cellular (GPRS or Technology & Applied Science Research, 2012, pp 281-284, Vol. 2.
SMS), radio, or satellite modem embedded in the unit. This 11. http://www.wikipedia.com
allows the asset's location to be displayed against a map
backdrop either in real time or when analysing the track
later, using GPS tracking software. Data tracking software is
available for smartphones with GPS capability.
Microcontroller
A microcontroller (sometimes abbreviated µC, uC or MCU)
is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing
a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output
peripherals. Program memory in the form of Ferroelectric
RAM, NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on
chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM.
Microcontrollers are designed for embedded applications, in
contrast to the microprocessors used in personal computers

Published By:
121 Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
& Sciences Publication Pvt. Ltd.