Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
11 AUTOMATIC HUMIDITY SENSING AND WATER REFILLING COOL-MIST HUMIDIFIER
 Andrew Sherwin
Jalen Chen
Woojin Kim
 Surya Vasanth design_document3.pdf
final_paper3.pdf
photo1.PNG
photo2.jpg
presentation1.pdf
proposal2.pdf
video
video
# Team Members:
- Woojin Kim (wkim51)
- Andrew Sherwin (zyxie2)
- Jalen Chen (jalenc3)

# Problem

The problem we want to solve is the lack of humidity in indoor environments, especially during the winter months. Humidity levels are often very troublesome to control, having to continuously modify the humidifier output level to fit your perfect needs. You would have to keep adding water in the humidifier every time it runs out. Bacteria, minerals, and mold tend to form over time in the water tanks. Ultrasonic humidifiers will vibrate these particles into the air, and are detrimental to the user’s health. Hot-mist type humidifiers also tend to congest nasal passages, as well as high energy costs. The cost-must humidifier works by evaporating water using a fan. This is the safest, and cleanest way to humidify a room, therefore, is the method we will be using.


# Solution

To resolve the problem brought up, we have decided to produce an automatic humidity detecting humidifier. The idea is the humidifier will know when to turn on and off depending on the readings of a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor will be placed in a location away from the humidifier. This will prevent false readings from being in a close proximity to the humidifier. Every few minutes, the humidifier will communicate with the sensor before deciding to turn on or off.

Update: 01/25/2024 15:10 - We will incorporate multiple sensors to detect multiple humidity readings in a room. We may average the readings for the humidity range, and the different readings will tell the humidifier which direction needs more humidifying.


# Solution Components

## Subsystem 1
## Humidity Sensor

Explain what the subsystem does. Explicitly list what sensors/components you will use in this subsystem. Include part numbers.
The humidifier will have a ESP32 chip that communicates with the remote ESP32 chip which is connected to a BME280 sensor. The BME280 sensor is able to communicate with I2C and SPI. We will use SPI for communication with the ESP32 microcontroller, with the ESP32 being the master. The ESP32 in the humidifier will be the master. We plan to use the ESP32 in the humidifier to bring up a WiFi connection, as the host, and the remote ESP32 will join the host’s connection for communication. The ESP32 will be powered via a barrel jack and an AC to DC converter.

2x ESP32-S3-WROOM
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/espressif-systems/ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R2/16162644

1x Temperature/Humidity SensorBME280
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/bosch-sensortec/BME280/6136306

1x AC/DC barrel jack plug
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tri-mag-llc/L6R12-090/7682630



## Subsystem 2
## Humidifier

The humidifier will have a round base, similar to that of a mug. Inside the enclosure will be a filter. The filter will be wet, as water is fed in from the base of the enclosure. Above the wet filter will be a quiet fan that accelerates the evaporation of the wet filter. There will be a water level sensor at the base of the humidifier to sense when more water needs to be added. When an insufficient amount of water is detected, the ESP32 in the humidifier will tell the water dispensing system, discussed with the machine shop, to activate and trickle fill the base of the container. It will stop when the water detector determines there is enough water. The fan will activate, continue activating, or turn off depending on the data from the remote ESP32. The idea is to have an electronic valve that turns on and off the water supply. For the demo, the water supply will be from a tank, but the product should be connected to a building's water supply. The PCB will be connected to the wall via a barrel jack to an AC to DC converter.

Update: 01/25/2024 15:10 - The humidifier will have a rotating head or body that can adjust the wind flow direction of the fans depending one which area in the room needs more humidity.

1x Humidifier Filter
https://www.amazon.com/Lxiyu-Humidifier-Wicking-Compatible-Replacement/dp/B088WG2QF8/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1CIMXRNSVCXBJ&keywords=humidifier+wicking+filter&qid=1706162957&sprefix=humidifier+wicking+filt%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

1x irrigation pipe
https://www.amazon.com/ZZM-360%C2%B0Tree-Watering-Sprinkler-Irrigation/dp/B0B5GW28YC/ref=asc_df_B0B5GW28YC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=647314406102&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2915494740902510298&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022185&hvtargid=pla-1954342074615&psc=1&mcid=5423b99a7bef38d4b629f5773e55ffc2

1x water resistant quiet fan
https://www.amazon.com/Coolerguys-120MM-120X120X25-Airflow-Waterproof/dp/B07NMC9X38/ref=sxin_14_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.97527784-1102-40e6-925d-b95bb0c9f9e6%3Aamzn1.sym.97527784-1102-40e6-925d-b95bb0c9f9e6&crid=2LYEA1XUQ1U02&cv_ct_cx=waterproof%2Bfan&keywords=waterproof%2Bfan&pd_rd_i=B07NMC9X38&pd_rd_r=2552965a-ddcc-4837-b12f-840f4493f7c6&pd_rd_w=dupGO&pd_rd_wg=MdZFw&pf_rd_p=97527784-1102-40e6-925d-b95bb0c9f9e6&pf_rd_r=GRHM9G2MGXFZES6APX0B&qid=1706164051&s=lawn-garden&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=waterproof%2Bfan%2Clawngarden%2C139&sr=1-1-364cf978-ce2a-480a-9bb0-bdb96faa0f61-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

1x contactless water level detector
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/contactless-water-level-sensor-module?variant=40162797322323

1x AC/DC barrel jack plug
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tri-mag-llc/L6R12-090/7682630


# Criterion For Success

- Our project would need to achieve a multitude of high-level goals to be sufficiently complete. Some goals would include:
- ESP32 is able to read data from the humidity sensor
- ESP32 is able to communicate with ESP32 in the humidifier
- Multiple ESP32 sensor PCBs communicating with humidifier PCB for multiple humidity readings
- Humidifier’s fan is able to turn on and off based on a humidity range
- Humidifier is able to rotate and adjust its wind direction to a direction that needs more humidity
- The filter irrigation system irrigates the filter when the water level sensor readings indicate more water is needed


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Updated: 01/25/2024 15:10 - Added multiple sensors and rotating humidifier

Electronic Replacement for COVID-19 Building Monitors @ UIUC

Patrick McBrayer, Zewen Rao, Yijie Zhang

Featured Project

Team Members: Patrick McBrayer, Yijie Zhang, Zewen Rao

Problem Statement:

Students who volunteer to monitor buildings at UIUC are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 itself, and passing it on to others before they are aware of the infection. Due to this, I propose a project that would create a technological solution to this issue using physical 2-factor authentication through the “airlock” style doorways we have at ECEB and across campus.

Solution Overview:

As we do not have access to the backend of the Safer Illinois application, or the ability to use campus buildings as a workspace for our project, we will be designing a proof of concept 2FA system for UIUC building access. Our solution would be composed of two main subsystems, one that allows initial entry into the “airlock” portion of the building using a scannable QR code, and the other that detects the number of people that entered the space, to determine whether or not the user will be granted access to the interior of the building.

Solution Components:

Subsystem #1: Initial Detection of Building Access

- QR/barcode scanner capable of reading the code presented by the user, that tells the system whether that person has been granted or denied building access. (An example of this type of sensor: (https://www.amazon.com/Barcode-Reading-Scanner-Electronic-Connector/dp/B082B8SVB2/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=gm65+scanner&qid=1595651995&sr=8-11)

- QR code generator using C++/Python to support the QR code scanner.

- Microcontroller to receive the information from the QR code reader and decode the information, then decide whether to unlock the door, or keep it shut. (The microcontroller would also need an internal timer, as we plan on encoding a lifespan into the QR code, therefore making them unusable after 4 days).

- LED Light to indicate to the user whether or not access was granted.

- Electronic locking mechanism to open both sets of doors.

Subsystem #2: Airlock Authentication of a Single User

- 2 aligned sensors ( one tx and other is rx) on the bottom of the door that counts the number of people crossing a certain line. (possibly considering two sets of these, so the person could not jump over, or move under the sensors. Most likely having the second set around the middle of the door frame.

- Microcontroller to decode the information provided by the door sensors, and then determine the number of people who have entered the space. Based on this information we can either grant or deny access to the interior building.

- LED Light to indicate to the user if they have been granted access.

- Possibly a speaker at this stage as well, to tell the user the reason they have not been granted access, and letting them know the

incident has been reported if they attempted to let someone into the building.

Criterion of Success:

- Our system generates valid QR codes that can be read by our scanner, and the data encoded such as lifespan of the code and building access is transmitted to the microcontroller.

- Our 2FA detection of multiple entries into the space works across a wide range of users. This includes users bound to wheelchairs, and a wide range of heights and body sizes.