Senior Design 2024
Senior Design 2024
Smart Doggy Door
Marketability
This device would be helpful for pet owners who aren't home during the day and do not want their pets to be able to go in or out while they are not home. Additionally, having the door be able to be locked at certain hours provides an extra layer of security for the homeowner, as doggy doors have been the target for break-ins.
Description
Pet owners treat their furry friends as a member of the family, and only want the best for them. When it comes to pet ownership, any sort of time saving measure would be a welcomed addition to their lives. For pet owners who allow their dogs to roam in the yard, a doggy door is often an important feature in their home. The classic doggy door has a few key issues that our group is trying to address. The conventional doggy door requires the owner to manually restrict access when the door is not allowed to be used by their pet. Our product aims to provide a "smart" element to this piece of equipment, allowing the owner to set specified times for access, and for the door to be automatically opened when the dog is within range of the door.
Functionality
The door itself will consist of the following components: an electrical motor to raise and lower the door hardware, an pressure sensing mat to detect when the pet is in proximity, a microcontroller device to power and activate the motor, and a touch screen interface for user programming. Using the touch screen mounted near the door, the user will be able to set times at which the door may be opened when the pet is detected.
Block Diagram​
Comparison Table
Preliminary Features
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Ability to detect presence of the pet using a pressure sensing mat
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Open the door after detecting the presence of the pet: 5 seconds wait before opening.
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Ability to program a time-window to "lock" the door. During this time the system is disabled and the door does not open.
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Ability to maintain a record of each event, allowing the owner to track their pet's habits.
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Ability to be powered directly from a regular outlet, avoiding the need for battery replacements.
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(TBD) Ability to alert the pet owner each time the door is used
Engineering Requirements
Smart Panel
Description
With the introduction of all-electric appliances, the amount of power required by each household has been increasing. Homes that were built decades ago may not be able to accommodate these devices because of the limited capacity of their main electrical panel. For example, a family living in a home with an "100 A" utility would not be able to charge their EV while using an electric stove or a dryer. A smart electric panel could be helpful to seamlessly disconnect specific electrical loads in certain situations.
Marketability
This device would benefit the homeowners of older buildings that are holding off the purchase of some power-intensive appliances because of the limited capacity available in their main panel. These people would be able to temporarily disconnect one of their high-power loads when performing other power-intensive tasks. For example, if the maximum capacity of the main circuit is reached, the panel automatically disconnect the EV charger when the stove is turned on. The charger is then restored once finished cooking.
Functionality
The device will be able to determine the amount of current flowing through each branch of the home circuit. Whenever the maximum capacity of the main circuit is reached, the smart panel disconnects one of the loads according to the assigned priority. The devices is configured using a web interface through a browser, where every branch of the circuit is assigned a priority number.
Block Diagram​
Comparison Table
Smart Kitchen Inventory
Description
Reaching into the refrigerator for an item and finding that the food you were going to use is expired is a common problem for home cooks. Keeping track of our items and the expiration dates of the items in your kitchen is a huge task for consumers. The smart device our group is looking to create revolutionizes the way you manage your pantry and refrigerator by effortlessly keeping track of expiration dates and automatically updating your shopping list.
Marketability
This device would fit right in with todays growing need for efficiency. Targeting busy consumers looking to reduce food waste, and save time when planning their next trip to the grocery store. A user friendly interface that mounts right on the countertop provides a seamless experience when entering expiration dates and creating a shopping list that can automatically update as items run low or expire.
Functionality
The device will allow the user to scan the barcode of each item before putting it in the refrigerator, and manually enter the expiration date. When using the item, the user may scan the barcode and the system will automatically add the item to the shopping list. The countertop mounted interface will notify a user of a pending expiration date within a number of days that can be set by the user.
Block Diagram​
Logic Diagram​
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Comparison Table
