Mar 28, 2016 | By Tim Powers
Honda Announces Successful Development of a Tamper-Resistant Ignition Interlock Device For Vehicles
Miscellaneous
In order to help reduce and even eliminate the dangers of drunk driving, the use of ignition interlock devices has been an effective tool in achieving this goal. When used as part of a restricted driving program that can be instituted after a drunk driving arrest, these devices will request drivers to submit a breath sample into the device. If the device registers alcohol content exceeds pre-programmed levels the vehicle will not start.
For people who have ignition interlock devices on their vehicles, they may devise ways to cheat the system such as feeding the system compressed air or by having a friend who hasn’t been drinking blow into the system. However, Honda Motor Company and Hitachi have announced they have developed a successful prototype of a new alcohol detection device for vehicles that is tamper-resistant.
According to a press release issued by Honda, these new interlock devices have significant advantages over other system. First, while other systems require drivers to perform the test from the driver’s seat once they are already inside the vehicle, this new device will allow people to measure their alcohol level from anywhere and, importantly, prior to entering their vehicle.
Secondly, the Hitachi/Honda device can confirm that the gas that is supplied to the device is indeed human exhaled breath and it can detect the level of alcohol at the same time. Unlike other devices, the new Honda/Hitachi prototype device is smaller and features an advanced sensor design that can detect the saturated water vapors from human breath with a high degree of sensitivity.
When someone breathes into the the devices, they exhale onto the sensor which is sandwiched between the electrodes, the water vapors from the breath is adsorbed on the insulator and then an electric current flows between the electrodes. When this phenomenon occurs, the sensor can recognize if the applied gas is indeed human breath.
This prototype device also has been designed to better measure the concentrations of alcohol on a person’s breath when they use the device. The Honda/Hitachi device features three types of sensors to detect levels of ethanol as well as acetaldehyde (which is the metabolized by-product of alcohol) as well as hydrogen gas. The device is capable of reading alcohol levels as low as 0.03% which is the legal limit in Japan.
Additionally, this system can be fully integrated into a smart key system. By applying the recorded measurement result of the alcohol detector into the engine ignition mechanism, this system can prevent the engine from starting if it detects that the driver’s breath is over the limit that is pre-programmed into the device. The Honda/Hitachi device also features an indicator also shows the measurement results on the vehicle’s display panel if the equipped smart key is close to the driver seat.
This new system will be featured as part of the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress and Exhibit which will be held in Detroit next month.
Engin AĞAÇ
8 years ago
Although drunk driving is forbidden all over the world, still drunk driving cases exist. A lot of accidents occur due to the drunk driving. In such accidents many people injured or became disabled and unfortunately there are cases resulting death. Furthermore, millions of dollars financial damage occurs. To prevent such accident some institutions and companies construct projects or support such projects.
In the projects, those have the aim of preventing such accidents from occurring, a connection is established between the engine and alcohol meter via an immobilizer system. The working principle of this kind of project is established as follows: while the driver indents to start the vehicle he must pass an alcohol test. To prevent the case of driver uses alcohol after starting the vehicle, the driver asked to pass alcohol tests every time that is designated by the system. This way it is tired to avoid driver to take alcohol after starting the vehicle.
1. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS PROJECT
The name of this project is GOST “safe car driving technology”
2. WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF “GOST PROJECT”?
GOST project is established by utilizing speed sensor, voltage sensor, time sensor, alcohol meter, MQ3 alcohol scent sensor and face recognition algorithm. The process schema of face recognition algorithm is organized in accordance with the project and by utilization of the features of sensors mentioned above, new software is established.
3. WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED VIA “GOST PROJECT”?
A. Drunk driving can be avoided by 100%
B. Driving without a driving license can certainly be prevented
C. Considering real time traffic tickets, the ticket is issued to the driver who is driving at that moment.
D. Wherever in the world the vehicle is started, the personal information of the person who drives the vehicle can be reached.
4. THE TECHNOLOGY OF GOST PROJECT CAN BE UTULIZED ALL VEHICLES?
Yes it can. This technology can be utilized in vehicles while keeping the originality of it.
5. WHAT ELSE GOST PROJECT OFFERS?
With this project, even a running vehicle can be prevented from operating.
6. WHERE CAN BE GOST TECHNOLOGY APPLIED?
Similar technologies are embodied vehicle as a “must have device” in many Europe countries. Specially in school services, bus companies, cargo and logistic companies and lately in private vehicles it is embodied as a “must have device”
7. WHY DO PEOPLE PREFER TO USE THİS DEVİCE?
The companies those are aware of the importance of their business or expecting to provide better service, to demonstrate that they can provide safer service compare to other companies, and considering security of life and property, want to utilize this device.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES OF GOST PROJECT FROM OTHER PROJECSTS?
1. Do you know, for certain, the one passes the alcohol test is the driver himself?
2. How can you prevent a person to pass the alcohol test besides from the driver if there is more than one person in the vehicle?
3. If the driver is a non-drinker or not drunk, why does he have to pass alcohols test every time he wants to use his vehicle or after starting his vehicle?
4. What can be done in case of driver chance during the day or driver changes in “stop and go” cases?
5. If the driver is not drunk, why should the case of “having another person in the car who is drinking alcohol or drunk” result in immobilization or preventing from starting vehicle?
6. Is the device in the vehicle sensitive to alcohol components?
7. Why should a conscious alcohol user pass an alcohol test when he uses a vehicle?
8. A driver can pass alcohol test by wearing transparent gloves. What can be done in that case? GOST project is designed considering such circumstances and the driver is under control from starting the vehicle to stopping it.
9. What are the other superiorities of GOST project? You can’t drive a vehicle without having a driver licence even the vehicle has started. The owner of the vehicle or other persons want to drive the vehicle should register their licence for once only. Later it is sufficient to have the licence with them when they want to use the vehicle.
10. The stopping conditions of running vehicle are defined.
11. Some countries expect zero tolerance while in some countries it is permitted to 0,8 promile.