Update

Initially I was intending on utilizing the WSS (Wheel Speed Sensor) which will relay the speed that the vehicle will be travelling. Due to issue raised in previous blog, I have decided to utilize the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) located on final-drive housing of transmission which will determine the speed vehicle is travelling but additionally, I am wanting to also control the shift solenoids within the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) which will allow for holding a gear at a pre-determined RPM.
Will now be researching where, what and how to utilize all components, signals and programming for the functioning of our tech project.

Progress on project.

With Stage 1 complete, i started researching more into have the project could be realized. i started discussing with friends our new modified version of our project. As we discussed the project, I realized that through discussion, that, even if the APS (Accelerator Pedal Sensor) not depressed, in Manual Transmissions such that are in Mazda BT 50 07-12 the vehicle is able to accelerate. this presented a problem, my initial thought was to utilize WSS (Wheel Speed Sensor) which would provide the speed of vehicle, but when stumbling no this factor I needed to research and investigate further.

Update:

With the feedback from family and friends about our tech project, we decided that we would modify our initial idea. Due to the feedback we decided to drop our idea of alerting authorities that the vehicles passengers where not restraint and giving authorities a visual indication and confirmation of such situation.

Our idea will still incorporate the seat belt, but also, ETCV (Electronic Throttle Control Valve), APS (Accelerator Pedal Sensor), ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and Arduino. 

 In Stage  1, our group will elaborate more on idea.

Update:

Research on any existing projects similar too such as our initial presentation are in the market, but not quite. In NZ, there are close to 4.500.000 people (www.stats.govt.nz), with researching showing that 5% are still not utilizing seat belt, that equates close to 225.000 people, which is still a considerable number of people that our groups initial idea intended on targeting (No seat belt).

While researching our groups initial idea, our group also asked opinions of friends and families. While conversing with family and friends, it dawned on us that the initial idea is fast becoming a dud. Through conversing and conveying thoughts, we decided that we needed to approach this technology project from a different perspective.

Reference;

Statistics NZ. 2014. (Population clock). Retrieved from:
http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/population_clock.aspx

Update:

After our initial presentation was completed, we started researching the technologies that would be utilized in such a project, also, Is there such a product in the market currently, what market is it utilized in, who is buying such products and what are the benefits and barriers of such project.

Our team have also decided to ask friends and family on their opinions on what our groups technology project.

Week 4

This week we have researched to see if any technology is existing in the market currently and it's application. There is no existing technology currently that is similar to our idea and it's application that we presented so our team will research the components necessary for the idea to be implemented and it's feasibility.

Week 3

We have selected an idea, from a problem that we as a group see in our everyday lives, which is not predominate to any ethnicity as we all have done it once or twice.

We've chosen to research seat belt systems and the possibility of incorporating a transmitter within the vehicle. This transmitter is connected to seat belt system and depending on if seat belt is engaged, initiates the switch on of an LED/s that will be located within or near both front pillars and in high rear stop lights as examples. As transmission is only initiated due to a disengaged seat belt while vehicle is in operation, the system will be pulled to ground and no LED/s or transmission is actuated.

I felt our presentation was average, but with that said , I believe that the idea can be tweaked and with more research into the area and of technology out there today, we will be able to produce hopefully a prototype before final presentation.

Week 2

We have discussed our idea's with our peers and facilitators and how gone back to the drawing board as our idea's were either not feasible or not technical enough. In the next week, we will select an idea that would be more feasible and hopefully be approved by our group and facilitators.

Week 1,,, The ideals...

We have received our assessment package and been instructed to write down ideas that we may have of issues that are within automotive that could be improved or should be neglected. With this we are to develop the idea so that the concept will either be viable to archive and the evidence to support or reasons for the idea not to be viable and evidence of why. Also a contract is to be written of the direction that the group are researching.

Two ideas have been OK by our facilitator which our group are researching.