Smart Window Blinds By: David Morgan

Idea Origination Repetitive process of opening window blinds Open during the day for plants to absorb sunlight Close during the night for privacy Such smart blinds are not sold in stores. The only match, is button blinds.

Smart Blind Function When light sensor detects light open the blinds When light sensor detects no light, close the blinds A button where a user can manually bypass the light sensor Original idea was to power the hardware by mini solar panels, but user feedback eliminated this idea

Project Hardware Arduino - microcontroller board, which makes logical decisions Wires - steel wires covered with plastic insulation, which connect hardware components Servo motor degrees motor, which opens and closes the blinds Servo connectors - connects the servo motor to the window blinds Solder - metal alloy when melter, firmly binds two metal hardware pieces and conducts electricity Glue - adhesive material which binds two components together and acts as an insulator Window blinds - regular blinds on which will be used for demonstrating project Light sensor - detects and reports on the brightness of the light Resistors - 10K resistor, to lower voltage Button - button used for manually opening and closing the blinds Plastic – plastic box for Arduino

Project Tools Desktop Computer - runs Arduino program Arduino Software - code for Arduino is written in it Google Sketchup - plots 3-d objects, for plastic printer Documentation sources- books and websites which provide documentation how to use software Plastic printer - prints outer box using plastic which would extent the life of device by protecting it from: External damage - i.e. If it falls down or someone accidentally bumps it, the device would stay in one piece Dust - dust on naked hardware could create contacct for electricity and cause some componet to melt USB cable - type A male to type B female cable, which Soldering Iron - melts solder, to hold hardware components together Breadboard - Board used to connect components together, before soldering LEDs - lights used for testing purposes Multimeter - tests voltage, amps and watts to detect the problem and determine which component is not functioning Hot Glue Gun - melt the glue, to hold non-metal components together Google Sketchup & Plastic Printer Software – used to design platic box

Testing & Unexpected Issues Flourescent Light Blinking Issue - Sunlight and Moonlight test passed Servo attachment & slippage issue Unreliable hardware malfunction Servo and light sensor not always precise

User Feedback Many end-users do not care about project specifics as long as Smart blinds perform their function correctly Condense physical hardware seen to the end-user Implement a clock to better accurately know when to close and when to open blinds Remote control to open/close blinds