Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed designs for “smart vests,” objects that can aid in saving lives in the events of car collisions. The practical use targets mainly construction workers on roadside projects, such as building bridges or extending the number of lanes on a highway. However, the items can also serve other individuals. For example, police officers or first responders could effectively utilize the contraptions since they often have exposure to traffic along different kinds of roads. Either way, the research attempts to integrate functionality of vehicle connectivity, existing infrastructure near sites, and mobile phones.

1. Smart Vests for Construction Workers

2. Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed
designs for “smart vests,” objects that can
aid in saving lives in the events of car
collisions.

3. The practical use targets mainly
construction workers on roadside projects,
such as building bridges or extending the
number of lanes on a highway.

4. However, the items can also serve other
individuals.

5. For example, police officers or first
responders could effectively utilize the
contraptions since they often have exposure
to traffic along different kinds of roads.

6. Either way, the research attempts to
integrate functionality of vehicle
connectivity, existing infrastructure near
sites, and mobile phones.

7. Basics of the Smart Vests

8. The smart vests
function from an
interlocking grid of
short-range radio
transmissions.

9. In other words, it could potentially benefit
from Bluetooth and wireless networking.

10. The basic idea involves two warnings: one
that goes out to the endangered person and
another that alerts the wayward driver.

11. Only a few seconds may pass to allow
evasion.

12. However, that may arise as enough time for
a chance at survival for the victim.

13. The project focuses on roadside construction
workers since they consist of the largest
majority of those killed by vehicle collisions.

14. So how will the warning for construction
workers come about? Construction sites fill
up with distractions in both the audial and
visual ranges.

15. One notion contained the thought of placing
speakers into ear protection.

16. The smart vests would still keep radio
contact.

17. Other possible intentions include the vest
vibrating or even shrinking in efforts to grab
attention.

18. When Virginia Tech began research in 2013,
the radio portions possessed the size of a
school backpack.

19. In 2014, the radios appeared the same size
as mobile phones.

20. Current models also associate the devices
with Global Positioning Systems, and the
radio cases could shrink even further.

21. Studies of the vest have high levels of
success, reaching an accuracy of 90% when
determining imminent collisions.

22. Future Plans for the Smart Vests

23. Tom Martin
currently leads the
project, which he
designated as
InZoneAlert.

24. His groups have so far only received funding
from internal sources related to Virginia
Tech.

25. They seek investment from federal agencies
and its local version of the Department of
Transportation.

26. With proper funding, the smart vests could
reach workers after roughly five years.

27. Coming up soon in the future, tests on a
couple of Virginia’s specialized roads could
lead to more progress.

28. While protective to a number of different
occupations, the goal for the InZoneAlert
campaign remains to keep the vest as user-
friendly and unobtrusive as capability allows.

29. It must make a wearer alert, and not
suddenly scared out of their pants, assuming
the individual wore pants.

30. Simple accidents can occur when a driver
misses or ignores cones, signs, flags, or other
iotas that signify an impending construction
site.

31. For that purpose, the smart vests show
techniques for safety.