Design and Development of Fuel Cut Off Mechanism for Unintended Pressing of Accelerator Pedal

Abstract

Worldwide, The Number Of People Killed In Road Traffic Crashes Each Year Is Estimated At Almost 1.2 Million, While The Number Injured Could Be As High As 50 Million- Which Amounts To A Combined Population Of Five Of The World?�?S Large Cities. Sudden Unintended Acceleration (Sua) Is Unintentional And Unexpected Rapid Acceleration Of The Vehicle I.E. Where Drivers Depress The Accelerator Pedal When They Intend To Depress The Brake Pedal. It Has Been Reported Several Times That Unintended Pedal Misapplication When A Driver Panic Contributes To Numerous Traffic Accidents. This Calls For An Automated Solution Implemented On The Car To Prevent Pedals From Working When Applied Unintentionally. Usually When Drivers Panic And Misapply A Force On A Pedal, They Do It In A Forceful And Quick Manner Different From The Normal Way Of Applying Force On A Pedal Which Is Steady And Constant. Considering This Important Factor An Electro Mechanical System To Lock Fuel Supply System To The Combustion Chamber While The Driver Pressed The Gas Pedal Suddenly With Instant Of Time Was Developed In This Work. The System Consists Of Electrical And Mechanical Components. The Electrical Part Consists Of Potentiometer And A Control Logic Which Senses When The Accelerator Pedal Is Pressed Accidentally By Sensing Gas Pedal Pressing Time. Using This Information The Control Logic Blocks The Force Applied On The Accelerator Pedal From Increasing The Speed Of The Car. Also, The Mechanical System Was Involved In Preventing The Force From Increasing The Speed. Unintended Acceleration Test Was Performed In Different Driving Conditions In Order To Identify Panic Condition. The Test Result Show That The Maximum Deviation Occur In Sudden Acceleration Pedal Pressing From Ideal To Full Load, Sudden Acceleration Pressing In The Middle Of Normal Driving And Sudden Acceleration Pedal Pressing While Drive At High Speed With The Slope Deviation Of 20.6m/S, 15.9m/S And 9.95m/S Respectively. If The Slope Of Potentiometer Reading To Time Is Above 9.95m/S The System Locks The Fuel Supply System To The Combustion Chamber While The Driver Pressed The Gas Pedal Suddenly With Instant Of Time. Unintended Acceleration Locking Mechanism Is One Possible Way Of Improving Safety Of Passengers In Order To Reduce Property Damage, Injuries, And Fatalities Caused By These Errors.