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Created December 11, 2024

Safe Freezer Storage System

Our solution aims to solve the issue of unsafe freezer storage rooms by preventing people from getting trapped inside.

Things used in this project

Hardware components

M5Stack FIRE V2.7

M5Stack PIR Sensor Human Body Infrared PIR Motion Sensor (AS312)

M5Stack Time-of-Flight (ToF) VL53L0X Laser Ranging Unit (MCP4725/)

M5Stack RGB Unit with NeoPixel RGB LED (SK6812)

M5Stack Mini HUB Unit 1 to 3 HUB

Software apps and online services

M5Stack UIFlow

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Hot glue gun (generic)

Scissors, Free Fall

Tape, Masking

Story

Background Information

As the world enters the Fourth Industrial Revolution, factories are transitioning into usage of electronics and digital media. Smart factories are becoming more prevalent in both developing and developed countries. However, as smart factories focus more on efficiency, safety is just as important and needs to be accounted for as well. This project will work on safety features and protect workers from dangers of being trapped in freezers.

Objective

To develop a safe working environment when working in factories with freezers.
Provide reassurance and maintain communication with the people who are trapped.
Develop a system that can prevent workers from being stuck in the factory freezers.

Research

Based on our research, people may get trapped in factory freezers due to reasons such as:

1. Faulty Door Mechanisms

Broken or Jammed Latches: Wear and tear can cause malfunctions, making doors hard to open from the inside.
Frozen or Stuck Doors: Moisture buildup can freeze seals, preventing movement.
Defective Internal Releases: Emergency release buttons may be broken, missing, or frozen.

2. Lack of Worker Awareness

Unawareness: Workers may not realize someone is trapped.
Complacency: Experienced workers may neglect safety precautions.

Dangers of Being Trapped:

1. Hypothermia: Cold exposure can cause confusion, unconsciousness, or death.

2. Asphyxiation: Low oxygen levels in sealed freezers can lead to suffocation.

3. Physical Injury: Panic or escape attempts can cause falls or wounds.

4. Fatal Exposure: Without timely rescue, prolonged entrapment can be deadly due to cold exposure.

Emotional/Psychological Impacts:

Being trapped can cause extreme distress, especially for those with cleithrophobia (fear of being unable to escape). Unlike claustrophobia, which relates to small spaces, cleithrophobia is about entrapment.
Triggers intense panic, helplessness, and dread that can overwhelm the victim.

Related Articles on Freezer Entrapment Incidents:

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5016716

https://www.the-sun.com/news/12443774/body-found-dead-food-lion-store-freezer-employee/

Related Articles on the Emotional Impact of Entrapment:

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-elevators-2671765#:~:text=Cleithrophobia%20is%20a%20fear%20of,in%20tall%20buildings%20and%20skyscrapers.

http://manhattancbt.com/fear-of-elevators#:~:text=Cleithrophobia%20is%20the%20fear%20of,Acrophobia

Solution

The safe freezer system addresses these concerns with:

Immediate detection mechanisms.
Reassurance (Using Buzzer and RGB unit) to reduce distress of victims and to warn workers.

The system minimizes the duration of entrapment, helps alleviate emotional distress, and fosters a sense of control and safety.

Project Details

Stopwatch : When freezer door is open, a timer can be set with the M5Stack and will be activated when door is closed
Door Sensor : Using a TOF Sensor, we can check if the freezer door is open or closed
Human Detection : A PIR Sensor will check if human(s) are present in the room based off body heat and movements
Danger Alert System : The RGB Unit will be flashing and buzzer will sound to alert others if the door has been closed and someone is still inside beyond the set time period

We used TOF and PIR Sensors as they can operate at sub-zero temperatures, thus the ability to operate in a freezer.

Project Video:

Project Showcase / Visuals:

Product Poster

Block Diagram for M5Stack

Flowchart for M5Stack

ELECT-F M5Stack Code

from m5stack import *
from m5ui import *
from uiflow import *
import time
import unit

setScreenColor(0x222222)
pir_0 = unit.get(unit.PIR, unit.PORTB)
tof_0 = unit.get(unit.TOF, unit.PORTA)
rgb_0 = unit.get(unit.RGB, unit.PORTB)


time = None
showingtime = None
dooropen = None
personinside = None
stopwatch = None
overtime = None
wasovertime = None



label8 = M5TextBox(118, 129, "X Mins", lcd.FONT_DejaVu24, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label7 = M5TextBox(83, 90, "ARMED", lcd.FONT_DejaVu40, 0xf81f1f, rotate=0)
image0 = M5Img(0, 0, "res/m5s-min.png", True)
label0 = M5TextBox(110, 90, "(Minutes)", lcd.FONT_DejaVu18, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label1 = M5TextBox(110, 135, "Text", lcd.FONT_DejaVu40, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label2 = M5TextBox(150, 215, "+", lcd.FONT_DejaVu18, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label3 = M5TextBox(245, 215, "-", lcd.FONT_DejaVu18, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label4 = M5TextBox(25, 215, "Set Time", lcd.FONT_DejaVu18, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label5 = M5TextBox(100, 60, "Set Time", lcd.FONT_DejaVu24, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label6 = M5TextBox(105, 5, "Door Open", lcd.FONT_DejaVu18, 0x1fff65, rotate=0)
label9 = M5TextBox(110, 156, "Warning", lcd.FONT_DejaVu18, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label10 = M5TextBox(110, 177, "Text", lcd.FONT_Default, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)
label11 = M5TextBox(54, 182, "Text", lcd.FONT_Default, 0xFFFFFF, rotate=0)

from numbers import Number




image0.show()
label0.hide()
label1.hide()
label2.show()
label3.show()
label4.show()
label5.hide()
label6.show()
label7.hide()
label8.hide()
label9.hide()
label10.hide()
label11.hide()
time = 1
showingtime = False
dooropen = True
personinside = False
stopwatch = 0
overtime = 0
wasovertime = False
rgb_0.setColorAll(0x000000)
while True:
  label1.setText(str(time))
  if dooropen == True:
    stopwatch = 0
    overtime = 0
    rgb_0.setColorAll(0x000000)
    rgb.setColorAll(0x000000)
    if btnA.isPressed():
      wait_ms(100)
      if showingtime == False:
        label0.show()
        label1.show()
        label2.show()
        label3.show()
        label5.show()
        showingtime = True
        label4.setText('Confirm')
      else:
        label0.hide()
        label1.hide()
        label5.hide()
        showingtime = False
        label4.setText('Set Time')
    if btnB.isPressed():
      wait_ms(100)
      time = (time if isinstance(time, Number) else 0) + 1
    if (btnC.isPressed()) and time > 1:
      wait_ms(100)
      time = (time if isinstance(time, Number) else 0) + -1
  if (tof_0.distance) >= 70:
    label6.setText('Door Open')
    label6.setColor(0x33ff33)
    label7.hide()
    label8.hide()
    dooropen = True
  elif (tof_0.distance) < 70:
    label6.setText('Door Closed')
    label6.setColor(0xff0000)
    dooropen = False
  if (pir_0.state) == 1:
    personinside = True
  elif (pir_0.state) == 0:
    personinside = False
  if dooropen == False and personinside == True:
    label0.hide()
    label1.hide()
    label2.hide()
    label3.hide()
    label4.hide()
    label5.hide()
    label7.show()
    label8.show()
    label11.show()
    label11.setText(str(stopwatch))
    label8.setText(str((str(time) + str('Mins'))))
    stopwatch = stopwatch + 1
    wait(1)
  if stopwatch >= time * 60:
    image0.changeImg("warning.jpg")
    rgb_0.setColorAll(0xffff00)
    rgb.setColorAll(0xffff66)
    overtime = stopwatch - time * 60
    label9.show()
    label11.hide()
    label10.setText(str((str(overtime) + str('s overtime'))))
    speaker.tone(1800, 200)
    rgb_0.setColorAll(0xff0000)
    rgb.setColorAll(0xff0000)
    wasovertime = True
  if wasovertime == True:
    image0.changeImg("defbackground.jpg")
    label9.hide()
    label10.hide()
    wasovertime = False
  wait_ms(2)

Safe Freezer Storage System

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Background Information

Objective

Research

Solution

Project Details

Project Video:

Project Showcase / Visuals:

Code

ELECT-F M5Stack Code

Credits

Muhammad Sadiq

braven

Goh Joon Hong Abel

Tan Yong Rui

Comments

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Safe Freezer Storage System

Safe Freezer Storage System

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Background Information

Objective

Research

Solution

Project Details

Project Video:

Project Showcase / Visuals:

Code

ELECT-F M5Stack Code

Credits

Muhammad Sadiq

braven

Goh Joon Hong Abel

Tan Yong Rui

Comments