Cars developed thick pillars along the sides of the windshield to avoid a collapse in case the vehicle rolls over after collision. However, the downside of these pillars is that it causes blind spots or spaces where the drivers' view is obstructed from their sitting position.
This recurring problem faced by drivers is what inspired fourteen-year-old Alaina Gassler to create a device that can help reduce blind spots.
THE WINNING DESIGN
Alaina Gassler got the inspiration for her prototype from their family vehicle—a Jeep Grand Cherokee that comes with thick A-pillars providing a big blind spot. She said that her mother hates driving because of those thick A-pillars and Gassler is determined to get rid of the blind spots—just in time for her brother to practice driving. According to Hempstead personal injury lawyers, 6 teens die every day in motor vehicle accidents in the US and blind spots are a big reason that accidents occur.
To put her ideas into practice, she created a prototype designed to fill in blind spots. She attached webcams outside of the pillar near the passenger side. She also used a projector to display the images captured by the webcam inside the pillar. She then used a 3D printer to make the component of the projector that will make the image clearer. Gassler then lined the pillar with a reflective fabric to be able to reflect the image to the driver providing an uninterrupted field of vision.
Gassler said she tested the prototype on the same vehicle that inspired her to create the device. In an interview with Popular Mechanics, she said, "I wanted to find a way to get rid of them, and my older brother Carter just started to drive, so it was a big safety concern."
Alaina Gassler and her prototype won the grand prize worth $250,000 at the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) hosted by the Society for Science and the Public.
LITTLE STEPS
Although Alaina Gassler's invention is a breakthrough in its own right, it still has a long way to go. The device's camera, for instance, is still shaky, as seen in Gassler's video presentation. Also, the projection of the captured images is not yet blending well in perfect view, so there is a lot to develop. Gassler mentions that she plans on using LCD screens for her next prototype. That will bring better visibility, especially in daylight.
Gassler is not the only one who aims to solve the issue of blind spots in vehicles. Big companies are trying to secure patents for their designs. South Korean car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia recently applied for a patent for their design that is somewhat similar in design logic with that of Gassler's. American manufacturer Continental Tires are also developing a design for invisible A-pillars, much like with Gassler's design of using cameras and screens. Early in 2017, Japanese brand Toyota was able to patent their design of using mirrors as a cloaking device to make the A-pillars invisible.
With these promising innovations, everyone hopes that the percentage of accidents caused by blind spots will decrease in the coming years.
