Exterior School Bus Student Detection System
Specifications
21 to 36 Passenger School Buses

The School Bus Student Detection System shall be modular in design. Rostra Precision Controls Model SDS or approved equal. The system shall contain eight (8) electronic sensors located at specified locations on the exterior of the bus to detect school children or obstacles that come into the danger zones around the bus. Four (4) sensors shall be located on the front of the bus, one (1) sensor shall be located on the passenger door side of the bus between the wheelhouses, two (2) sensors shall be located on the rear of the bus and one (1) sensor shall be located between the wheelhouses on the side of the bus opposite the entrance door. The two sensors located at the rear of the school bus will only be operational when the bus is in reverse. Upon detection of student or obstacle in a danger zone the system shall instantly alert the driver by audible and visual alarms.

The system shall be automatically operational when the red warning lights and stop arm are activated. The front of the bus shall have four (4) sensors mounted on the bumper. One sensor shall be located on each end of the bumper in front of the front tire and the other two sensors shall be approximately evenly spaced across the remaining bumper area. The two center mounted sensors shall be delayed from being activated for a period of approximately four seconds to allow the front walkgate crossing arm to deploy without setting off the driver’s detection alarm. After the four second delay, the center two sensors shall automatically be activated. When the front walkgate is retracting the two center sensors shall again be de-activated for approximately four seconds. When the front walkgate crossing arm has retracted the front two center sensors shall be automatically re-activated for a period of approximately seven to ten seconds as the bus pulls away from the stop. The front two center sensors deactivation/activation time shall be adjustable to match the deployment and retraction times of the different walk gates on buses. When the system in the operational mode, the driver’s display will show two (2) distinct colored lights, Green for Normal and Red for Danger. When a zone is violated by a student or obstacle the driver’s display will show the exact location of the intrusion and a warning alarm will sound.

The electronic sensor units shall be of the type that can transmit electronic signals through mud, debris, snow, ice, and other non-metallic films or surfaces that may be near the skin of the bus. Sensors shall transmit without supplemental heaters or ancillary cleansing equipment. Sensors shall be mounted to provide maximum detection of students or obstacles in the danger zones. Sensors shall have a minimum detection range of 3.5 – 4.5 feet for the front and side sensors and 10 feet for the rear sensors

System shall have a minimum of five (5) controllers and no more than two sensors shall be connected to each controller. Each controller shall be a microcomputer-based, mixed signal device that communicates separately with the display unit mounted in the driver compartment.
The display and alarm module shall be mounted within clear view of the driver. The display unit shall be a graphic of a school bus with each of the five (5) danger zones (left front, right front, left side, right side, and rear) clearly indicated on the display. The display shall clearly show each of the operation zones of the system. The display will contain a visual and adjustable audio alarm that will sound at every intrusion into a danger zone.

The School Bus Student Detection System shall be designed with a programming feature built into the display that allows the technician to choose the configuration set and to access diagnostic codes for troubleshooting. The School Bus Student Detection System shall have a five (5) year, unlimited mileage warranty and shall meet all State and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in effect for school buses. Bidder shall supply with his bid a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty. Warranty shall begin at the “In Service” date – not the installation date.