Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Self Heating Bed |
Amaan Rehman Shah Hari Gopal Siddharth Kaza |
Jialiang Zhang | design_document1.pdf final_paper1.pdf other1.jpeg photo1.jpeg photo2.jpeg presentation1.pptx proposal2.pdf video |
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| # Self Heating Bed Team Members: Siddharth Kaza (kaza3) Amaan Rehman Shah (arshah6) Hari Gopal (hrgopal2) # Problem Many prefer a fan or heater next to their bed, so as to get a restful night’s sleep. Certain solutions such as the BedJet or EightSleep have been produced, but are financially out of scope for the majority of people. Additionally, standing ventilation systems can often be loud or not provide temperature control for the entire bed, leaving a non-uniform warmth or coolness which may become uncomfortable over time. # Solution A heating mattress is our answer to the many who feel uncomfortable with frigid temperatures in the middle of winter. The system would be an attachment to one’s bed frame (through clamps), with hot air circulating through bed sheets to simulate a warmer environment. Four splits can be made for this project: heating, circulation, and safety. Each will be expanded on below. # Solution Components ## Subsystem 1 We intend on implementing heating using independent and smaller heating coils, due to their cost effectiveness compared to the circulatory system in most apartments and houses. This coil is usually a resistor in most heating systems, coupled into an electric system where more power sent through the resistor results in more heat being dissipated. An infrared heater is potentially another option, but considering the space is a bit larger than what infrared is meant to hit, coils seem like the better choice. McMaster sells heat coils for around 30-40 dollars, at this link: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/heating-coils/. To measure the temperature, we will use a thermometer at the output At the moment, we believe it is too complex/expensive to implement a cooling system for the bed; however, we’d like to discuss the idea further with a TA to understand the components needed and finalize it in our proposal. In the current implementation, we would be venting room temperature air underneath the covers, which can still serve to reduce the temperature similar to a tower fan. ## Subsystem 2 Circulation is an issue even in conventional air conditioning systems, which makes its implementation all the more pertinent in our project. Through a fan or air blower, we can circulate air under the blankets and bed sheets to increase the temperature of the bed without having the problems of Eight Sleep (leakage issues, temperature mismatches, etc.). Additionally, we intend on giving the user control of this function through a motor control system and receiver implemented on our PCB. Easy access and variability through an app or remote of some sort will most certainly satisfy user expectations and leave a good experience. This speed controller from Amazon is an example of what will be used to modulate the fan power. https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Adjustable-Portable-Interface-Accessories/dp/B0D2BJV1KY ## Subsystem 3 Safety and power are the last two issues, and largely hinge on limits that we need to implement on the heating system. The coils that we buy will likely have a wattage rating that we can abide by, and set hard limits for using fuses within the system and on the PCB. Furthermore, checks and balances will be made for the power system through multiple voltage valuations and current examinations, feeding back to the main controller on the PCB and allowing us to monitor the system at all times. A potential option for the feedback system is PID based, as it provides the most flexibility and has been tested numerous times in other projects. The feedback system will be core to how we control our fan and heating, and will require fine tuning at the end of our project to ensure that we stay within safe operating temperatures. # Criterion For Success Describe high-level goals that your project needs to achieve to be effective. These goals need to be clearly testable and not subjective. Our project should: Be able to modulate the temperature of its surroundings (defined as the temperature within a square box of the bed) within 3 degrees Fahrenheit of what the user inputs Have a quiet air ventilation system, measured around 50-60 decibels (when sleeping, noise around one should not exceed 50) Not power hungry and able to subsist off of the wattage of a normal fan or heater (1500W) |
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