Introduction
Road accidents are a major cause of injuries and fatalities worldwide. Many accidents become fatal due to not wearing helmets, drunk driving, and delayed emergency response. A Smart Helmet is an IoT-based safety system designed to improve rider safety by ensuring helmet usage, detecting alcohol consumption, and sending emergency alerts during accidents.
Objective of the Project
- To ensure helmet usage before bike ignition
- To detect alcohol consumption by the rider
- To detect accidents automatically
- To send emergency alerts with location details
Working Principle
- Helmet-wearing is detected using a switch or IR sensor
- Alcohol sensor checks for alcohol in the rider’s breath
- Bike ignition is enabled only if conditions are safe
- Accelerometer detects accident or fall
- GPS and GSM send emergency alerts automatically
Components Required
- Arduino Uno / Nano
- MQ-3 Alcohol Sensor
- IR Sensor / Pressure Switch
- Accelerometer (ADXL335 / MPU6050)
- GPS Module (NEO-6M)
- GSM Module (SIM800/900)
- Relay Module
- Buzzer
- Power Supply / Battery
Block Diagram
Helmet Sensor + Alcohol Sensor
↓
Arduino Controller
↓
Relay → Bike Ignition
↓
Accelerometer → Accident Detection
↓
GPS + GSM → Emergency Alert
Circuit Connections
Alcohol Sensor (MQ-3)
A0 → A0 (Arduino)
VCC → 5V
GND → GND
Helmet Detection Switch
Switch → D2
Accelerometer (MPU6050 – I2C)
SDA → A4
SCL → A5
Relay Module
IN → D8
VCC → 5V
GND → GND
GSM Module
TX → D9
RX → D10
Arduino Code (Smart Helmet)
#include <Wire.h>
#include <MPU6050.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
MPU6050 mpu;
SoftwareSerial gsm(9,10);
#define alcohol A0
#define helmet 2
#define relayPin 8
int alcoholValue;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
gsm.begin(9600);
Wire.begin();
mpu.initialize();
pinMode(helmet, INPUT);
pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
alcoholValue = analogRead(alcohol);
if (digitalRead(helmet) == HIGH && alcoholValue < 400) {
digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); // Ignition ON
} else {
digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW); // Ignition OFF
}
int16_t ax, ay, az;
mpu.getAcceleration(&ax, &ay, &az);
if (abs(ax) > 15000 || abs(ay) > 15000) {
sendAlert();
delay(5000);
}
}
void sendAlert() {
gsm.println("AT+CMGF=1");
delay(1000);
gsm.println("AT+CMGS=\"+91XXXXXXXXXX\"");
delay(1000);
gsm.println("Accident Detected! Immediate help required.");
gsm.write(26);
}
Code Explanation
- Helmet and alcohol sensors ensure safety compliance
- Relay controls bike ignition
- Accelerometer detects sudden impact
- GSM sends emergency SMS alert
Advantages
- Prevents riding without helmet
- Reduces drunk driving accidents
- Automatic accident detection
- Faster emergency response
Applications
- Two-wheeler safety systems
- Smart transportation solutions
- Accident prevention systems
Future Enhancements
- Camera-based driver monitoring
- Mobile app connectivity
- Live location tracking
- AI-based accident severity detection
Conclusion
The Smart Helmet project is a life-saving innovation that combines IoT, sensors, and communication technologies to enhance road safety. It ensures safe riding practices and provides immediate help during emergencies.
