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

Modularized Electronic Locker

Jack Davis, Joshua Nolan, Jake Pu

Modularized Electronic Locker

Featured Project

Group Member: Jianhao (Jake) Pu [jpu3], Joshua Nolan [jtnolan2], John (Jack) Davis [johnhd4]

Problem:

Students living off campus without a packaging station are affected by stolen packages all the time. As a result of privacy concerns and inconsistent deployment, public cameras in Champaign and around the world cannot always be relied upon. Therefore, it can be very difficult for victims to gather evidence for a police report. Most of the time, the value of stolen items is small and they are usually compensated by the sellers (Amazon and Apple are very understanding). However, not all deliveries are insured and many people are suffering from stolen food deliveries during the COVID-19 crisis. We need a low-cost solution that can protect deliveries from all vendors.

Solution Overview:

Our solution is similar to Amazon Hub Apartment Locker and Luxer One. Like these services, our product will securely enclose the package until the owners claim the contents inside. The owner of the contents can claim it using a phone number or a unique user identification code generated and managed by a cloud service.

The first difference we want to make from these competitors is cost. According to an article, the cost of a single locker is from $6000 - $20000. We want to minimize such costs so that we can replace the traditional mailbox. We talked to a Chinese manufacturer and got a hardware quote of $3000. We can squeeze this cost if we just design our own control module on ESP32 microcontrollers.

The second difference we want to make is modularity. We will have a sensor module, a control module, a power module and any number of storage units for hardware. We want to make standardized storage units that can be stacked into any configuration, and these storage units can be connected to a control module through a communication bus. The control module houses the hardware to open or close all of the individual lockers. A household can purchase a single locker and a control module just for one family while apartment buildings can stack them into the lockers we see at Amazon Hub. I think the hardware connection will be a challenge but it will be very effective at lowering the cost once we can massively manufacture these unit lockers.

Solution Components:

Storage Unit

Basic units that provide a locker feature. Each storage unit will have a cheap microcontroller to work as a slave on the communication bus and control its electronic lock (12V 36W). It has four connectors on top, bottom, left, and right sides for stackable configuration.

Control Unit

Should have the same dimension as one of the storage units so that it could be stacked with them. Houses ESP32 microcontroller to run control logics on all storage units and uses the built-in WiFi to upload data to a cloud server. If sensor units are detected, it should activate more security features accordingly.

Power Unit

Power from the wall or from a backup battery power supply and the associated controls to deliver power to the system. Able to sustain high current in a short time (36W for each electronic lock). It should also have protection against overvoltage and overcurrent.

Sensor Modules

Sensors such as cameras, motion sensors, and gyroscopes will parlay any scandalous activities to the control unit and will be able to capture a photo to report to authorities. Sensors will also have modularity for increased security capabilities.

Cloud Support

Runs a database that keeps user identification information and the security images. Pushes notification to end-users.

Criterion for Success:

Deliverers (Fedex, Amazon, Uber Eats, etc.) are able to open the locker using a touchscreen and a use- provided code to place their package inside. Once the package is inside of the locker, a message will be sent to the locker owner that their delivery has arrived. Locker owners are able to open the locker using a touchscreen interface. Owners are also able to change the passcode at any time for security reasons. The locker must be difficult to break into and offer theft protection after multiple incorrect password attempts.

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