Microcontroller based autistic child monitoring system in Bangladesh

Abstract

Children with developmental disorders and their families face major challenges in managing the risk to a disabled child, who may be prone to becoming lost away from their own home. Health and Social care system in Bangladesh has not yet developed the capacity and infrastructure to provide safety services to children with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). There are no nationwide statistics of Autistic Children in Bangladesh. As per the global prevalence rate, 1 percent of the world population has autism. One in 160 children has an ASD. Since there are 55 million children in Bangladesh below age 14, there may be 550,000 autistic children. As the physically challenged child cannot take care of themselves and no one is there who can keep observation 24-hour like whether the child is getting panic, whether the child is on safety zone or changed his position elsewhere, whether he falls, etc. We have to keep them safe as the number of accidents with children is increasing. Our research study proposed the development of a wearable smart device, which can be a belt, wristwatch or locket. The developed device include a Microcontroller (PIC-16F876A), a global positioning system (GPS), global system for mobile (GSM), and switching unit and the monitoring unit includes sensors and mobile device in parent’s hand with which parents can find the current location of the child by using Google Map. This device ensures 24-hour monitoring and works as an interface between child and parents for emergency response.