dead man switch
Grip-dependent safety mechanism
A dead man switch is a safety mechanism that activates when the operator becomes incapacitated—releases a handle, stops pressing a button, or fails to respond.
Trains and industrial equipment use them to stop automatically if the operator collapses.
The concept extends to digital systems that send messages or release information if someone doesn't check in: He set up a dead man switch to publish the files if anything happened to him.
Also called a dead man's switch or deadman switch.
- failsafeAutomatic protective default
- fail safeProtective default mechanism
- triggerWhat initiates action
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- detonatorExplosive initiation device
killswitch · nuclear deterrent · mutual assured destruction · timer · release · grip · pressure · pressure plate · explosive · countdown · ticking clock · safety · vigilance · heartbeat · alarm · panic button · tripwire · mechanism
- safety controlspanic button, brake, e-stop, circuit breaker, cutoff
- triggerstrigger, trigger mechanism, trigger assembly, trigger pull, sear
dead man switchfail-safe
Automatic harm prevention mechanism
automatic shutoff · kill switch · emergency stop · cutoff switch · circuit breaker
dead, death, deadly, deadness, deaden, deadened, deadening, deader, manliness