Project :: ECE 445 - Senior Design Laboratory

Project

#	Title	Team Members	TA	Documents	Sponsor
2	Smart Power Routing	Jiabao Shen Jingjing Qiu Xiaoyi Han Yunfei Lyu		design_document1.pdf proposal1.pdf	Timothy Lee
	# TEAM MEMBERS Yunfei Lyu 3200111297 Jingjing Qiu 3200110900 Jiabao Shen 3200112328 Xiaoyi Han 3200112425 # PROBLEM Our "Smart Power Routing" project addresses the challenge of efficiently distributing and utilizing power among devices with varying needs, such as a lightbulb and a fan. Traditional systems struggle with dynamically managing power supply due to changing user demands and device requirements, often leading to energy waste and inconsistent device functionality. Our solution is a dynamic power management system that intelligently adapts voltage supply in real-time, responding to user interactions like switching devices or manual power generation. This project aims to demonstrate the practicality of smart power management in real-world scenarios, offering an accessible and engaging illustration of these principles for a broad audience. # SOLUTION OVERVIEW Our smart routing system manages and stores energy from electrical outlets and manual inputs — such as hand-crank generators and a pneumatic turbine — into a battery. After receiving power information from the sensor, it then dynamically allocates power to a fan and lightbulb in response to user interactions. The system's adaptability is managed by a microcontroller, which ensures efficient energy distribution and maintains device operation through variable conditions. # SOLUTION COMPONENTS ## SUBSYSTEM 1: Energy Harvesting and Storage This subsystem combines power from electrical sockets and manual energy generation methods, storing it in a battery for stable supply. It utilizes hand-crank generators and a pneumatic turbine, powered by a hand-squeezed air pump, to capture and convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Diodes and charge controllers ensure efficient energy flow into the battery, safeguarding against overcharging and power backflow. ## SUBSYSTEM 2: User Interaction Interface Switches and buttons serve as physical input devices. This user interaction interface captures user inputs, such as toggling the state of the socket, light, and fan, or activating the hand generator and turbine. ## SUBSYSTEM 3: Power Sensing and Load Management The power requirements of the fan and lightbulb are constantly monitored by current sensors, informing the microcontroller of any fluctuations in power consumption. This data allows the system to adjust power distribution in real-time, maintaining an uninterrupted operation of the connected devices. ## SUBSYSTEM 4: Microcontroller and Power Adjustment A microcontroller serves as the brain of the operation, processing sensor inputs and user interactions to manage the power flow effectively. It commands solid-state relays or transistor-based circuits to regulate the power supplied to the fan and lightbulb, ensuring their continuous operation. ## SUBSYSTEM 5: Display and Monitoring An LED screen displays battery storage condition and real-time power usage for both the fan and lightbulb, providing a visual representation of the system’s efficiency and the power dynamics between the devices and the power sources. # CRITERION FOR SUCCESS - Reliability: The system should consistently provide uninterrupted power to both the fan and the lightbulb regardless of user interactions, such as turning switches on and off and the presence of manual power generation from hand cranks or turbine inputs. - Efficiency: It should maximize the energy harvested from manual inputs and minimize losses during power conversion and distribution. - Good Visualization: The project should successfully demonstrate the principles of smart power routing in a way that is understandable and engaging for viewers, with clear displays of current power and battery condition. - Safety: The energy storage and distribution system must operate safely at all times, with built-in safeguards against overcharging, power backflow, and other potential hazards. - Durability and Maintenance: The system should be built to last, with easy maintenance and robust construction to withstand frequent use, especially by those unfamiliar with the system. # DESTRIBUTION OF WORK ## Yunfei Lyu - Project Manager and Quality Assurance - Responsibilities: Yunfei will oversee the project as the manager, coordinating project timelines, resource distribution, and team communication. Yunfei is also tasked with ensuring the overall quality of the project, focusing on both hardware and software components to meet the established reliability and safety standards. ## Jingjing Qiu - Software Development - Responsibilities: Jingjing will be responsible for developing the control software and energy management algorithm. The role involves coding the software to process input signals and dynamically adjust outputs, as well as implementing data logging capabilities. ## Jiabao Shen - Hardware Design and Safety Concerns - Responsibilities: Jiabao will spearhead the design and assembly of the hardware components, which includes crafting a smart voltage regulation system and ensuring the hardware is durable and easy to maintain. Additionally, Jiabao will be responsible for integrating safety features such as circuit breakers and surge protectors. ## Xiaoyi Han - User Interface and Interaction - Responsibilities: Xiaoyi's focus will be on enhancing user experience by developing an intuitive user interface (if applicable) and ensuring that the functional demonstration table is user-friendly and engaging. This role also entails testing the system's user interaction components for effectiveness and ease of use.

Title

Team Members

Documents

Sponsor

Smart Power Routing

Jiabao Shen
Jingjing Qiu
Xiaoyi Han
Yunfei Lyu

design_document1.pdf
proposal1.pdf

Timothy Lee

# TEAM MEMBERS
Yunfei Lyu 3200111297

Jingjing Qiu 3200110900

Jiabao Shen 3200112328

Xiaoyi Han 3200112425

# PROBLEM
Our "Smart Power Routing" project addresses the challenge of efficiently distributing and utilizing power among devices with varying needs, such as a lightbulb and a fan. Traditional systems struggle with dynamically managing power supply due to changing user demands and device requirements, often leading to energy waste and inconsistent device functionality. Our solution is a dynamic power management system that intelligently adapts voltage supply in real-time, responding to user interactions like switching devices or manual power generation. This project aims to demonstrate the practicality of smart power management in real-world scenarios, offering an accessible and engaging illustration of these principles for a broad audience.

# SOLUTION OVERVIEW
Our smart routing system manages and stores energy from electrical outlets and manual inputs — such as hand-crank generators and a pneumatic turbine — into a battery. After receiving power information from the sensor, it then dynamically allocates power to a fan and lightbulb in response to user interactions. The system's adaptability is managed by a microcontroller, which ensures efficient energy distribution and maintains device operation through variable conditions.

# SOLUTION COMPONENTS
## SUBSYSTEM 1: Energy Harvesting and Storage
This subsystem combines power from electrical sockets and manual energy generation methods, storing it in a battery for stable supply. It utilizes hand-crank generators and a pneumatic turbine, powered by a hand-squeezed air pump, to capture and convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Diodes and charge controllers ensure efficient energy flow into the battery, safeguarding against overcharging and power backflow.

## SUBSYSTEM 2: User Interaction Interface
Switches and buttons serve as physical input devices. This user interaction interface captures user inputs, such as toggling the state of the socket, light, and fan, or activating the hand generator and turbine.

## SUBSYSTEM 3: Power Sensing and Load Management
The power requirements of the fan and lightbulb are constantly monitored by current sensors, informing the microcontroller of any fluctuations in power consumption. This data allows the system to adjust power distribution in real-time, maintaining an uninterrupted operation of the connected devices.

## SUBSYSTEM 4: Microcontroller and Power Adjustment
A microcontroller serves as the brain of the operation, processing sensor inputs and user interactions to manage the power flow effectively. It commands solid-state relays or transistor-based circuits to regulate the power supplied to the fan and lightbulb, ensuring their continuous operation.

## SUBSYSTEM 5: Display and Monitoring
An LED screen displays battery storage condition and real-time power usage for both the fan and lightbulb, providing a visual representation of the system’s efficiency and the power dynamics between the devices and the power sources.

# CRITERION FOR SUCCESS
- Reliability: The system should consistently provide uninterrupted power to both the fan and the lightbulb regardless of user interactions, such as turning switches on and off and the presence of manual power generation from hand cranks or turbine inputs.
- Efficiency: It should maximize the energy harvested from manual inputs and minimize losses during power conversion and distribution.
- Good Visualization: The project should successfully demonstrate the principles of smart power routing in a way that is understandable and engaging for viewers, with clear displays of current power and battery condition.
- Safety: The energy storage and distribution system must operate safely at all times, with built-in safeguards against overcharging, power backflow, and other potential hazards.
- Durability and Maintenance: The system should be built to last, with easy maintenance and robust construction to withstand frequent use, especially by those unfamiliar with the system.

# DESTRIBUTION OF WORK
## Yunfei Lyu - Project Manager and Quality Assurance
- Responsibilities: Yunfei will oversee the project as the manager, coordinating project timelines, resource distribution, and team communication. Yunfei is also tasked with ensuring the overall quality of the project, focusing on both hardware and software components to meet the established reliability and safety standards.

## Jingjing Qiu - Software Development
- Responsibilities: Jingjing will be responsible for developing the control software and energy management algorithm. The role involves coding the software to process input signals and dynamically adjust outputs, as well as implementing data logging capabilities.

## Jiabao Shen - Hardware Design and Safety Concerns
- Responsibilities: Jiabao will spearhead the design and assembly of the hardware components, which includes crafting a smart voltage regulation system and ensuring the hardware is durable and easy to maintain. Additionally, Jiabao will be responsible for integrating safety features such as circuit breakers and surge protectors.

## Xiaoyi Han - User Interface and Interaction
- Responsibilities: Xiaoyi's focus will be on enhancing user experience by developing an intuitive user interface (if applicable) and ensuring that the functional demonstration table is user-friendly and engaging. This role also entails testing the system's user interaction components for effectiveness and ease of use.

Featured Project

# People

Scott Liu - sliu125

Connor Lake - crlake2

Aashish Kapur - askapur2

# Problem

Buses are scheduled inefficiently. Traditionally buses are scheduled in 10-30 minute intervals with no regard the the actual load of people at any given stop at a given time. This results in some buses being packed, and others empty.

# Solution Overview

Introducing the _BusPlan_: A network of smart detectors that actively survey the amount of people waiting at a bus stop to determine the ideal amount of buses at any given time and location.

To technically achieve this, the device will use a wifi chip to listen for probe requests from nearby wifi-devices (we assume to be closely correlated with the number of people). It will use a radio chip to mesh network with other nearby devices at other bus stops. For power the device will use a solar cell and Li-Ion battery.

With the existing mesh network, we also are considering hosting wifi at each deployed location. This might include media, advertisements, localized wifi (restricted to bus stops), weather forecasts, and much more.

# Solution Components

## Wifi Chip

- esp8266 to wake periodically and listen for wifi probe requests.

## Radio chip

- NRF24L01 chip to connect to nearby devices and send/receive data.

## Microcontroller

- Microcontroller (Atmel atmega328) to control the RF chip and the wifi chip. It also manages the caching and sending of data. After further research we may not need this microcontroller. We will attempt to use just the ens86606 chip and if we cannot successfully use the SPI interface, we will use the atmega as a middleman.

## Power Subsystem

- Solar panel that will convert solar power to electrical power

- Power regulator chip in charge of taking the power from the solar panel and charging a small battery with it

- Small Li-Ion battery to act as a buffer for shady moments and rainy days

## Software and Server

- Backend api to receive and store data in mongodb or mysql database

- Data visualization frontend

- Machine learning predictions (using LSTM model)

# Criteria for Success

- Successfully collect an accurate measurement of number of people at bus stops

- Use data to determine optimized bus deployment schedules.

- Use data to provide useful visualizations.

# Ethics and Safety

It is important to take into consideration the privacy aspect of users when collecting unique device tokens. We will make sure to follow the existing ethics guidelines established by IEEE and ACM.

There are several potential issues that might arise under very specific conditions: High temperature and harsh environment factors may make the Li-Ion batteries explode. Rainy or moist environments may lead to short-circuiting of the device.

We plan to address all these issues upon our project proposal.

# Competitors

https://www.accuware.com/products/locate-wifi-devices/

Accuware currently has a device that helps locate wifi devices. However our devices will be tailored for bus stops and the data will be formatted in a the most productive ways from the perspective of bus companies.