May 22, 2019
According to KidsandCars.org, an average of 38 children die from being trapped inside of a hot car every year. In 2018 alone, there we 52 reported heatstroke deaths. Both children and pets can helplessly succumb to this mistake, yet it continues to happen way too often.
Enter 11-year-old Bishop Curry, whose heard that a neighbor’s baby was accidentally left inside of a hot car and had died. Bishop understandably felt very unsettled from this tragedy, but unlike many, decided to do something about it.
Bishop’s father notes that his son already loves to invent things, so naturally he thought that there should be something to prevent these types of fatal accidents.
“The idea just kind of popped in my brain automatically,” he says. “Hot car deaths shouldn’t happen to anybody. So I invented a device to prevent them,” as noted on his GoFundMe page.
He set to work with sketches and created a prototype from clay, and then a model from 3D printed plastic. The device has sensors would detect if a child is present (not a purse or other object) and also how hot the car is. If the car is too hot, then it would alert the parents first to come rescue the child, and then the authorities for help. While waiting for help, cooling fans would help to protect the child from overheating.
Bishop’s invention garnered the attention of many, including sponsors such as Toyota. Bishop’s father, Bishop Curry IV, is an engineer for Toyota and presented the idea to them. Toyota love the idea, which resulted in them traveling to an auto safety convention to show off his prototype.
Bishop’s family had created a GoFundMe page where he has reached $46,925 of his $30,000 goal to help secure a patent for the device, as well as funding for manufacturers to help build it.
Bishop Curry also attends robotics and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) camp, and mentions he has “an entire book of inventions” during his TED Talk.
This amazing young boy created a device to help save young lives, how inspiring! We’re so proud of him and also of his family who helped encourage such an amazing invention.
Update from GoFundMe: “Bishop is finalizing Oasis with his engineering team at Kickr Design and will pick up the finished product next week.”
Update from GoFundMe: “Bishop recently finished the engineering phase of Oasis and is now actively seeking a manufacturer to partner with.
Thanks, The Curry Family“
