SAFELOC SHOE

Introduction

Safety has become an important concern in today’s world, especially for people who travel alone or move through remote areas where mobile networks are weak or unavailable. During emergencies, the inability to call for help can put a person’s life at risk. To solve this problem, our project aims to create a simple and effective safety device integrated into a shoe. This device can send the user’s location to a receiver even in situations where normal communication methods may not work.

Objectives

• To design a safety shoe that can send the user’s location during emergencies.
• To provide a solution that works even in areas with poor or no mobile network.
• To improve personal safety for vulnerable groups like trekkers, elderly people, and women travelling alone.
• To ensure the receiver gets real-time location updates for quick rescue.
• To make a compact, affordable, and easy-to-use DIY safety device.

Background Research

In many critical situations—such as trekking accidents, getting lost in remote areas, or emergencies at night—people are often unable to call for help due to lack of mobile network or limited communication options. Existing safety devices mostly depend on smartphone connectivity or internet services, which makes them unreliable in no-network zones. To overcome these challenges, there is a need for an alternative solution that can work independently of mobile networks. Our project aims to address this gap by developing a shoe-based safety system that automatically sends the user’s location to a receiver.

Methodology / Working

The working of our DIY safety shoe is based on detecting an emergency and sending the user’s location to a receiver. The project uses basic electronic components that are embedded inside the shoe in a compact and safe manner. The overall methodology is explained below:

1. System Setup

The shoe contains a small electronic unit consisting of a GPS module, a transmitter (or communication module), a microcontroller, and a power source.

2. Emergency Trigger

The system includes a pressure switch/button hidden inside the shoe. When the user intentionally presses or steps in a specific way, the switch activates the safety system.

3. Location Detection

Once activated, the GPS module receives the exact latitude and longitude of the user. The microcontroller processes this location data.

4. Location Transmission

The processed GPS coordinates are sent wirelessly to the receiver via the communication module (LoRa)

5. Receiver’s Function

At the receiving end, another module receives the transmitted location.

Block Diagram

Components Required

Hardware Used:

• Li-ion Battery
• ESP32-C3 low-power microcontroller
• Booster module (if required)
• GPS module (NEO-6M )
• Communication module (LoRa)
• SOS mechanical switch

Software Tools:

• Arduino IDE / VS Code PlatformIO
• ESP32 SDK
• LoRa libraries
• GPS Parsing (TinyGPS++)
• Serial Monitor for debugging

Results

• When the user presses the emergency switch, the system successfully collects GPS coordinates.
• The transmitter sends the location to the receiver without relying on mobile networks.
• The receiver displays the user’s location clearly, allowing quick identification of their position.
• The system works even in remote areas, making it useful for trekking and outdoor emergencies.

Analysis

• The project provides a practical solution for personal safety in no network zones.
• The system responds quickly after the emergency trigger is pressed.
• Accuracy of GPS may vary depending on surroundings (open outdoor vs indoors).

Advantages

• Works even when there is no mobile network.
• Provides real-time location of the user.
• Designed for trekkers, women, children, and elderly people.
• Quick activation during emergencies.

Limitations

• Transmission range depends on the communication module used.
• GPS may not work perfectly inside buildings or dense forests.
• Battery needs to be charged regularly. (As for now we have used battery due to time limitation)

Future Scope

• Adding a waterproof case to protect the electronics.
• Integrating solar charging for longer battery life.
• Using advanced communication modules for longer range (e.g., LoRaWAN).
• Adding a mobile app for live tracking and history.
• Reducing the size of the components to make the shoe even more comfortable.

Conclusion

The DIY safety shoe project provides a reliable and practical solution for personal safety, especially for those who travel alone or explore remote areas. This enhances rescue efficiency and reduces risks during outdoor activities Overall, the safety shoe demonstrates how technology can be used creatively to improve security and save lives.