Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST) Page | 17

Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages 17-20, March 2017

Fire Accident Avoider in Locomotives through WPAN by Using GSM and GPS
M.Hemalatha1, R.Aruna 2, R.Brundha3, E.Indumathi4, D.Jeevalakshmi5
1
Assistant Professor, Department of ECE, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, India. Email: engineerhemalatha@gmail.com
2
UG Scholar, Department of ECE, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, India. Email: arunar1996@gmail.com
3
UG Scholar, Department of ECE, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, India. Email: brundhasuru@gmail.com
4
UG Scholar, Department of ECE, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, India. Email: induelaya95@gmail.com
5
UG Scholar, Department of ECE, Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, India. Email: jeeva301995@gmail.com

Article Received: 17 February 2017 Article Accepted: 27 February 2017 Article Published: 01 March 2017

ABSTRACT

Fire accidents are very dangerous and cause harm to human life and property. If these types of accidents occur in some public transport, then it’s a
matter of concern. In the recent times we have seen a lot of accidents occurring in trains, and a major part of it is due to fire accidents in the
compartments. This fire is not confined to just one compartment. In case the train is moving then there are chances of the fire spreading to other
compartments too. To avoid such incidents, there are different methods that are in use. Most of the present day systems use detectors in the
compartments to detect any fire accidents. In case of any such occurrences, the information is passed on to the driver, so that he can take necessary
decision. Hence we propose a system wherein we incorporate wireless sensors and WPAN to carry out similar operations. We have also designed
some extra features which cater to the safety of the passengers. At the end we are sure to get a more reliable system which also has advanced safety
features incorporated in it.
Keywords: Fire accidents, microcontroller, proximity sensor, de-clamping, WPAN, GSM and GPS.

1. INTRODUCTION parameters can be used to send a signal to the driver

Every day, new technologies are being developed to through Bluetooth transmission, so that he can take
improve the railways and other systems related to it. necessary steps. In the compartment, we can develop
Generally the railway department seems to increase the various steps like water sprinkler, automatic sliding doors
speed of the trains for better connectivity. As per recent and an alert system to save the lives of passengers.
records, the Indian railways are planning to of trains Wireless sensors are used in many applications; hence it
increase the speed to about 140-180 km/hr. Apart from can be used in many situations. Monitoring the parameters
increasing the speed, we also have to consider the safety of in real time help we to obtain accurate results due to the
passengers. Fire Accidents are one of the most dangerous high precision sensors used [2]. We can also use rescue
incidents possible in trains. Generally when a compartment systems in case of a fire. By detecting fire using flame
catches fire, it is hard to identify the occurrence of the fire sensors, we can use zigbee to send a signal to the nearest
and take initiatives to control it. Hence we need an centre. Once signal is received then it sends a message to
automated system to reduce the casualties. the station and help will be sent immediately [1]. Another
way of saving live during a fire is by designing a braking
Here we propose an automated system which not only system which is initiated by the fire accidents. Normally
detects any fire or explosion, but also carries out necessary the brake control will be with the driver, but during fire
operations for the safety of the passengers like sprinkling accidents he may not know about the accident. Hence we
the water in all over the compartments. In this system we make use of a fire sensor to detect the fire and when it is
use a fire sensor to detect any fire accidents and a smoke detected, we can use automatic braking system. Once the
detector is used to detect any explosions. A WPAN module train stops, the passengers can get themselves out of the
is used to transfer the alert message to the driver train and hence they are safe from the fire, which reduces
compartment. Simultaneously we use a motor to slide open the loss of lives [3].
the doors.
3. PROBLEM DEFINITION
2. LITERATURE SURVEY As we know that fire accidents are very dangerous and fire
Most of the fire accidents are due to the lack of passenger in moving trains may have a catastrophic effect. It may
knowledge. Fire accidents can be stopped by educating the leads to a lot of problem. In the previous systems we have
people about the safety measures, but in case a fire accident seen that after identifying the fire, the train can be stopped
occurs, then we have to take measures to control the fire. In immediately. This is not an suitable method for controlling
the event of a fire accident, the first step is to identify it. the fire. In case the train is travelling over a bridge then
Parameters such as temperature, humidity can be collected there is no use in stopping the train automatically. The
in real time to identify the fire. This collected data can be passengers cannot move out of the train. This system is
used for fire-fighting and alerting the people. In the useful only when the passengers can go out in a safe way.
previous attempts, it has been proposed that these But any system should be useful in all the conditions.

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Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST)
Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages 17-20, March 2017

Hence we propose a system which works in all conditions. use of a PIC 16f877A microcontroller for the basic
Moreover there are a few advantages to it compared to the computation process. At the compartment section, we
previous system which makes it more useful in helping out make use of a flame sensor for flame detection, smoke
passengers when there is a fire accident. Comparing with detector to detect the smoke, a buzzer for alerting the
the old systems, we make use of automatic sliding doors to passengers, a DC motor to automatic slide opening the
make sure the passengers can go out without hindrance. door. A water sprinkler is used to sprinkle water all over
the compartment and reduce the fire and control the
4. EXISTING SYSTEM temperature to normal. To transfer the signal to the drivers
Railways are one of the best modes of transport; the end, we make use of a WPAN (Wireless Personal Area
development of railways in our country took place rapidly. Network) module [1]. This wireless module eliminates the
Still there are numerous unsolved problems like fire use of wires.
accidents, train collisions, etc., the railway department has
taken measures to stop the problems. The inner parts of the At the drivers end we again make use of a PIC16f877A
train are mostly made of less prone to catching fire microcontroller to control various components. Here a
materials. Most of the materials are fire resistant. Even WPAN transceiver is again used to receive the signal and
after all these, a fire can arise due to a short circuit of wires passes it on to the PIC. An LCD display is used to display
or if any passenger carrying any flammable material. the warning message about the compartment number at
which the accident has occurred. We also make use of an
Keeping all these problems in mind, the railway automatic de-clamping mechanism to separate the
department has installed fire extinguishers in all the compartment under fire. This can be done to avoid the
compartments. But it doesn’t seem to be a good idea. In spreading the fire to other compartments too.
case of a fire accident, the passengers will get panic and
they don’t know what to do. Hence, the use of fire
extinguisher doesn’t flash to them immediately. Moreover,
if the fire extinguisher doesn’t work properly or if the
person is not well educated on how to use it, then it is a
waste of keeping the fire extinguishers in the
compartments.

At present, the railway department is using aspiration

based smoke and flame sensors. In this system, there is a
chamber where the air present inside the compartment is
pulled into a chamber. In this chamber the light is subjected
to a test, if there are any suspended particles it will scatter
the light rays, which is emitted by the laser. Once the
scattering is above the threshold level, the alarm alerts the
passengers. During a fire accident, the suspended particles
will be more in the air compared to normal. Hence we use
an aspiration based smoke detector. These mechanisms are Fig.1. Block diagram
one of the fastest to detect any change in the scattering
pattern of the air. In case of a fire accident, the flame sensor (IR sensor)
detects the fire and if there is any change in its threshold
5. PROPOSED SYSTEM value, and then it sends a signal to the driver section
The trains are used for transporting people and goods. through the WPAN module. At the compartment section,
Mostly, the people prefer the train journey for longer Firstly, the buzzer goes on alerting the passengers. Next the
distance as it is cheaper. The fire accidents in train are not water sprinkler is used to sprinkling the water so that the
catered seriously by Indian railways. The notices showing fire is extinguished and the temperature becomes normal.
“do not smoke”, “do not carry inflammable material” are Simultaneously the door of the train will be automatically
the only precautionary warnings about the fire in each slid opened, making it convenient for the passengers to
compartment. However, because of poor maintenance or move out. This can be done only when the train stops
illegal activities of social elements, the fire accident in train completely.
occurs frequently.
Once the compartment sends the signal to the driver, the
We have to take certain steps to control and prevent the WPAN transceiver takes the signal and sends it to the
fire. In case of fire, we first have to alert the passengers. PIC16f877A microcontroller. This controller then sends
Even the driver needs to be alerted. The transmission of the message to the digital display. Here IO expander is used
message should be done using a wireless system so that any to convert the digital message into readable alphabets.
wires used does not burn. In our proposed system, we make Later the buzzer at the drivers end also goes on alerting the
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Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST)
Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages 17-20, March 2017

driver. The LCD display then displays the compartment 6. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
number at which the accident has occurred. The moving In the above sections, we have spoken about the various
train is stopped now. Then the de-clamping mechanism is aspects about the safety system for trains. After research,
put into effect by detaching the affected compartment. we have come up with the prototype of this system.

We have a fire sensor to detect any fire in the coach. The

WPAN module is connected to the port. The DC motor and
the water sprinkler are connected to the motor driver. This
is done to amplify the current so that the motor can rotate.

The motor is used for de-clamping. In case of the fire

accidents, the buzzer switches on automatically alerting
LCD display is given connection to the I2C port. One of the
motors shows the train in running state and another motor
the passengers. The train turns off and the de-clamping is
activated automatically.

Fig.2. Flow chart of the system operation

Fig 4. LCD display in case of any fire accident

Fig. 4 shows the message displayed at the driver section

when there is any fire accident. The system not only alerts
the driver, but also displays the compartment number
where the fire accident has taken place. It also sends
message to the nearby station about the accident.

Fig.3. Hardware of the module

In the above sections, we have explained the working

system. Now we shall see the inner working of the system
by the flowchart.
Fig.5. Motor performing the de-clamping operation
The PIC microcontroller takes the program from the flash
memory to the RAM as soon as it is switched on. It then Another special feature in our system is the de-clamping
initializes all its ports and gets all the components to ready mechanism. The de-clamping mechanism is used to
for operation. separate from one compartment to another under fire from
the rest of the train. This mechanism can be operated
The sensor then keeps sensing the light intensity. When it manually or automatically. This operation is recommended
crosses the threshold, it sends a signal to the for safety purpose.
microcontroller. Once the program is initiated, the
operations which are mentioned in the flowchart are Fig.5 shows the DC motor that has been used to illustrate
carried out. the de-clamping mechanism. Since it is a prototype, it
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Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST)
Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages 17-20, March 2017

works automatically. In real time applications, this can be wired systems and also most of the preset day systems. It
done manually. The wooden piece connected to the shaft is would be a good step if this system is applied in reality.
used to show the mechanism. The shaft moves around 180
degrees to show its operation. At the end we are sure to get REFERENCES
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