Prototype Proposal: Multi-Room Thermostat
Aren’t things so much more convenient when no one has to share? Isn’t it so easy when the same task can be done in multiple places at once, though with variations in results to fit a specific situation? Automation of such tasks can be a huge plus.
The apartment complex I live in is made up of a single building, yet temperature control is independent between different areas. The lobby and hallways on each floor are set to comfortable room temperature, while the gym has its own thermostat that’s normally set to a slightly warmer temperature. Of course, each apartment has its own thermostat to fit each resident’s desires. Such a system of independent temperature areas could be scaled down to fit a single household, allowing for the same flexibility and convenience afforded to apartment managers. Ubicomp technology can allow everyday users to manage this system, while maintaining energy efficiency, with very little thought. In this essay, we’ll look at three concepts that will provide a starting point for system development: a central user interface, a non-intrusive, wireless sensor array, and a new A/C unit setup.
To start off, we’ll focus on the user end of the temperature system before briefly discussing the inner workings (i.e., the A/C unit and ventilation). For the user, the system comes down to a simple touchscreen UI about ¾ feet long and wide, made of a screen projected onto a turquoise glass plate about ¼ inches thick. The touchscreen will glow a light blue, though will darken after 5 minutes to conserve energy. The device will be plugged into a grey plastic plate, acting as both a wall mount and an electrical socket with the same dimensions as the touchscreen.
When turned on, this touchscreen will display a grid of various sized rectangles. Within each rectangle, a basic temperature reading will appear with a left and right pointing arrow on each side of the number. All text and lines will be colored black to easily contrast with the background. The user can touch these arrows to adjust the temperature by one degree. Each rectangle also has a custom label (by default, set to “Room 1”, “Room 2”, etc.). Along with tapping arrows to adjust room temperatures, users can touch a rectangle with two fingers and drag the temperature reading to another rectangle. This will “copy” the temperature in the first room and adjust the second room to that same temperature.
By double tapping a rectangle, the screen will display a series of empty input fields. By tapping on one of these fields, a user can input a time interval and set a temperature for that time interval. This allows a user to automatically adjust the temperature for different times of day without having to interact with the device. Let’s say you sleep better when your bedroom is cold but don’t want to wake up shivering. The automatic temperature interval will solve this inconvenience with a few taps on the screen at one time.
The central device also has a built-in microphone to allow greater accessibility. Users can activate voice recognition by saying “Hey *insert product name…”, followed by several possible voice commands such as “set living room to 73” or “set John’s bedroom time ten pm to 4 am, 69 degrees.” Other accessibility features should also be developed to allow for ease of use by users with physical disabilities.
In the top right corner of the touchscreen, there will be a rectangle marked “Settings.” Here, the user can adjust the screen brightness, switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius, and turn the microphone on and off. The settings will also provide status reports and advance adjustment options for the door sensors (which will be discussed in the next paragraph). If there are any issues with temperature in a given room, this menu will provide information that can be used by the user or service workers to repair the system. Sensors can also be turned on and off to adjust the system’s energy conservation measures. Finally, the settings menu will present short written reports detailing adjustments not inputted by a user (for example, when a living room’s air conditioning is turned off automatically when multiple windows are open).
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the central thermostat device will work in parallel with a set of sensors. These devices serve the central device’s energy conservation measures by alerting the system to the opening of doors and windows, which lead to wasted energy. These sensors are designed to be unintrusive and can be used near any opening within a building.
The sensor is a simple hard plastic box about the size of a human index finger. All device electronics are stored with the box and can be accessed by unscrewing a frontside panel. On the frontside, a motion sensor is hidden behind a very small hole next to a digital timer. The backside of the device is compatible with most common wall adhesive products. The device can be mounted to any flat surface with any orientation. For doors and horizontal-moving windows, the sensor out to be placed on a wall perpendicular to the door. It should be as close as possible to the door without the motion sensor being obscured by any fixed frames. For vertical moving windows, the sensor can be affixed to the larger side small stand, with a right triangle shape, placed in front of the window.
The motion sensor embedded within each sensor device will trigger an internal 30 second timer, which will count down on the digital timer once motion has been detected. If the motion sensor does not detect motion for a second time, the sensor will send a wireless transmission to the central thermostat device to lower the power output of the A/C unit. The idea is that if the motion sensor detects significant movement, the central device will assume that a window or door has been opened. This system has obvious flaws, as the sensor may detect insignificant movements of the door or window, or a person’s movements, as the opening and closing of the door or window. Finding a way to accurately detect this kind of motion will be a top priority for designers and manufacturers.
Finally, we’ll briefly discuss the design of the A\C unit. Since traditional air conditioning systems are focused on maintaining temperature and airflow throughout the entire house, designers of this new system may have to rethink how the unit is set up. There could be a variety of options, but there is an existing A/C design that could be effective, given some adjustments. Packaged air conditioners are designed to contain all essential components and processes in one unit. They are good systems to use when space is limited, and different variations can allow for greater energy efficiency and conservation. Perhaps an engineer could consider using several smaller packaged air conditioners, one for each room in a house. These units will be connected to the central thermostat device, with the central device acting as multiple thermostats in one. Of course, since a single packaged air conditioner can cover a whole home, designers may consider creating a smaller version of the A/C unit in order to minimize excess power and materials cost.
Bibiography
“How Do Air Conditioners Work?” carrier.com, https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/products/air-conditioners/how-do-air-conditioners-work/#.
