Project report

STEPS OF DESIGN

Step 1: Identify the need and define the problem

The initial step of the design is to recognize the need for a product or service. This means that engineering student have to think about the greatest alternative. The first step is to perform a base for the project, as it helps many people who use it on a daily routine. Due to the recent developments of smart homes, which are considered as an incredible personal and important space, the number of smart houses increased rapidly around the world, which caused them being an interesting topic for most researchers. In fact, smart houses can greatly improve accessibility and be life-changing for people living with disabilities. Firstly, the problem is that a lot of people, especially elderly and disabled individuals, sometimes have difficulties in being alone and performing regular tasks, which gives them the feeling of dependency and frustration. Secondly, many people faced issues with security and that made them decide to go with smart homes, in order to increase the house’s security, like in break-ins and fire situations. Thirdly, a huge amount of people that live in normal houses have energy consumption issues. Although it seems too expensive to install a smart home system, but using less power makes a big difference in your life, and it’ll save you a lot of costs.

These are the few reasons for which we identified that we need to design a new smart home system automation, because it can be a lifesaver, energy and money saver, in maximizing home security, and in improved appliance functionality.

Step 2: Identify Constraints and Criteria for

Success

It is important to identify constraints and the area of success because it enables us to ensure that our design is strong and good. The limitations of this design were defined as financing, material availability, ease of maintenance, and surrounding effects. Moreover, the property of this design is the cost, safety, reliability, Energy efficiency, capacity, time, serviceability, durability, compact design, aesthetics.

Table 1.1: Properties of smart home automation

Step 3: Search for Solutions

Option 1: Smart home automation system:

Touch display controller [2]

Smart remote control [1]

The smart home automation system has main controller with touch screen and smart remote control. There is a separate remote control for every room where each includes touch screen with different options. These options depend on the personal needs of the costumer and suitable requirements for different rooms. The main controller is linked to many electronic devices such as the following:

1. Air conditioning:

· Open and close the air conditioning.

· Change the mode.

· Increase or decrease the temperature.

· Increase or decrease the fan.

2. Lighting:

· Open and close the lights.

· Increase and decrees the light intensity.

· Change the color of lights.

3. Energy: Open and close electricity sockets.

4. CCTV: Check the security cameras.

5. Audio: Control on sound and speaker system.

6. TV: Control on the digital TVs, TV receivers and DVD players.

7. Wi-Fi:

· Check the Wi-Fi status.

· Show the passwords in the screen.

8. Locks:

i. Linked to the home bell.

ii. Open and close door’s locks.

9. Thermostat: Show the temperature of each room.

10. Fire Alarm: Linked to the fire alarm.

11. Eco-friendly: the system reduces electricity usage while no one in the room.

12. Irrigation: Water the planets at a specific time.

There are many other options included in the remote control, and some of the standardized options are:

· Air conditioning

· Lighting

· Energy

· Locks

· Thermostat

While some of the optional options are:

· TV

· Audio

· CCTV

· Reminder

Moreover, there is mobile application linked to the system to allow users to control the home from their smart phone. So, this will help users controlling their home while they are working, shopping, or even travelling. They can also watch over their kids while they are away using CCTV option.

Option 2: Smart home voice control system:

Table Holder for Echo Dot 3rd Generation [3]

The smart home voice control system is a smart speaker that is linked to other devices to allow users controlling them verbally. Below are some of the orders that users can make:

1. Play music.

2. Read the news.

3. Check the weather.

4. Set alarms.

5. Control compatible smart home devices and electricity socket.

6. Turn on/off and adjust lights.

7. Turn on/off and adjust Air conditioning.

8. Lock doors.

9. Search the internet.

This control system can help blind people and make their life easier where they can recommend the system to do things instead of doing them manually. It will also help illiteracy people by reading the news and searching the web for them. Moreover, there is mobile application linked to the system to use it from distance.

Option 3: Smart home gestures control system:

Smart Gesture Control System [4] [5]

The smart gesture control system has sensors that read some single motion and sign language, that will help special need people, especially who can’t speak or hear, to get easer life at home. This system has many options to do, these options are:

1. Control compatible smart home devices.

2. Turn on/off lights.

3. Turn on/off Air conditioning.

4. Lock doors.

5. Check the weather.

6. Reminder

7. Energy

Like the prior two systems, this system is linked to a mobile application that user can download and use to control the home system while he is away.

Step 4: Analyze each potential solution

· Cost: Option 1 and 3 are more costly than option 2 due to their parts composition. As option 2 is not complicated only reliable on the voice which makes it less in price. However, option 3 has the highest cost among them, because of it composed of camera while option 1 comes the second as it has a touch screen.

· Safety: Option 2 comes the safest between the three models. As the sound system is difficult to be hacked. Thus, more secured for the customer’s use. Option 1 is less secured in consequence of its touch screen. Despite option 3 can be hacked easily through the camera.

· Reliability: Option 1 comes the first to be reliable on as it’s a multitasker and the touching option makes it easier to be used for all ages. Moreover option 3 not anyone can deal with the camera easily as because of the new technology especially elder people. In spite of option 2 comes the least as the computer system may it takes time to recognize the voice and understand exactly what is needed by the customer.

· Energy efficiency: The chargeable battery of option 1 can works up to 5 days without charging and the remote can be easily snapped into the dual-purpose charging and dock station when not in use. But option 2 charges up to 8 hours with a single full charge. And option 3 is the least energy efficient as the camera consumes a lot from the battery.

· Capacity: Option 1 has scored the highest point because it stores the information of all the electronics devices linked with, and option 3 store motion detection algorithm. While option 2 will record only the voice signals. So, it scored the least point.

· Serviceability: as option 1 and 3 are more complicated and consist of touch screen and camera which makes them difficult to be serviceable. Option 2 has simple design with less parts to be serviceable.

· Durability: all of the three models have the same durability to be used for a long term with a good efficacy of chargeable batteries. So, they scored the same points.

· Compact design: Option 2 is huge that makes it complex design while option 1 more compacted in design makes it the best among others as it can be handled anywhere easily and by anyone because of its slim design. Option 3 it requires a specific position by the user to receive the order by the camera.

· Aesthetics: Option 1 has lightweight design as a mobile size and shape with buttons and touch screen, and option 2 has a rounded shape with speakers. Option 1 and 2 can be handled in hand however option 3 it should be adjusted on a stand as the camera must be fixed.

Step 5: Choose the best Solution

We decided to use the evaluation matrix to decide.

Table 1.2: Evaluation matrix for the smart home automation

From the evaluation matrix we found out that the best solution is option 1 according to the other values in table 1.2