SmartNest

About the Project

Caregivers accidentally leaving or forgetting children unattended in parked vehicles due to cognitive lapses remains a severe, life-threatening safety issue in Malaysia and worldwide, frequently resulting in fatal heatstroke. To address this challenge, SmartNest was engineered as an automated, non-intrusive child presence detection and immediate caregiver alerting system designed to prevent vehicular heatstroke incidents. The system is built upon an Arduino Uno R3 central microcontroller paired with a load cell weight sensor and an HX711 amplifier to process real-time presence data from a child seat. Wireless connectivity is maintained through an HM-10 Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module. When the load sensor detects a child’s weight, the device continuously monitors the caregiver's proximity via their smartphone. If the caregiver moves away and breaks the BLE connection while weight remains detected on the seat, the system automatically triggers immediate push notifications and emergency alarms on the user's mobile device. Designed as a modular pad, SmartNest offers universal accessibility by fitting standard infant car seats without complex dashboard setups. Priced highly affordably at approximately RM 86.50 , SmartNest specifically targets low income families and caregivers using entry-level vehicles lacking built-in advanced safety technology. A market survey revealed , 96.4% agreed the device could prevent child heatstroke, 75.9% expressed intent to use it, and 100% emphasized the necessity of simple, universal installation. SmartNest offers a low-cost, highly reliable, automated passive safety solution that bridges the gap between child safety and accessibility, safeguarding young lives in underserved communities.