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
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Arduino - microcontroller board, which makes logical decisions
Wires - steel wires covered with plastic insulation, which connect
hardware components
Servo motor - 360 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
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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