Home Automated

Ventilation System
(HAVS)
STEPHAN HUBER
LUKE GENTHE
WITH THE ADVISING ASSISTANCE OF PROFESSOR PARV VENKITASUBRAMANIAM

Approach of Concept

Identify
Problem/Research
prior art and
current solutions

Administer User
survey/identify
user and tech
specs

Build working
model to test
eventual solution

Design product

Build Prototype

Problem Statement

Different people have different temperature preferences

Rooms may be used more or less than others

Rooms may be exposed to external heat sources/sinks through:

Poor insulation

Ovens

Concrete floors

High window density

Multi story homes

Background Research
Potential Market and Existing solutions
60%

of homes in U.S. have forced air

heating and cooling1
123.2 million households in the
United States in 2014, that makes for over
60 million potential customers2

New Solutions
New approach by companies such as Keen Home, Ecovent,
and Activent

With

HVAC

systems regulated by
programmable thermostats

Unbalanced

air distribution addressed by

breaking home up into zones

1- Enyclopedia of Human Ecology, Julia R. Miller, page 222

2- U.S. Bureau of the Census
3- www.keenhome.io

Concept uses remotely controlled louvers along with

temperature sensors in each room
Temperature is thus regulated on a room to room basis

Products are expensive with prices ranging from $60-$80

per vent3

Prior Art Considerations

U.S. Patent #2014/0330438

Key Features

Aims to solve same problem

Battery operated vents w/ electronic

actuator and locking pin

Low power wireless technology

Main controller

Solar strip for recharging

Self Learning of user schedule

U.S. Patent #2014/0312126A1

Key Features

Aims to solve same problem

Battery operated vents powered by

low power motor

Wireless technology

Main hub

Ease of retrofit ability

Access via browser or phone app

Approach of Concept

Show Problem
Exists/Research
prior art and
current
solutions

Administer
User
survey/identify
user and tech
specs

Build working
model to test
eventual
solution

Design product

Build Prototype

User Specifications

Must be reliable for all normal conditions

Must be able to function in all rooms in a home

Must have battery life of at least 1 year

For indoor use only

Must be easy to install and retrofit to any forced air system

Must have intuitive user interface via phone app

Interface must provide for possibility of multiple users

Must work for heating and air conditioning

Technical Specifications

Operating Temperature: -20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit

Range: 150 between vents and communication hub as well as 150

between room thermostats and communication hub

Communication medium: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi between all devices

Power source: battery operated with trickle charger, 3 V operating

voltage

User Interface: Phone app w/ manual control on thermostat, hierarchal

preference to phone app

Comply with FCC electromagnetic radiation guidelines as well as all

other applicable regulations

Approach of Concept

Show Problem
Exists/Research
prior art and
current
solutions

Administer
User
survey/identify
user and tech
specs

Build working
model to test
eventual
solution

Design product

Build Prototype

Model home with Forced Air

Model has ductwork and forced air conditioning similar to a

home

Outfitted with two light bulbs to serve as external heat

sources (e.g. kitchen stove/oven)

Temperature sensors in each room for monitoring

Glass front for visual monitoring

Model Simulation
Model Simulation with 60 Watt heat source in one room

Temperature spiked thereby proving existence of the

problem

Goal: minimize spike in temperature by managing air flow

to all of the rooms

Model Simulation Continued

Model Simulation with 2 60 Watt heat sources in 2 different

rooms

Temperature spiked again, bringing up temperature in

adjacent rooms as well as the room with the light bulb

Approach of Concept

Show Problem
Exists/Research
prior art and
current
solutions

Administer
User
survey/identify
user and tech
specs

Build working
model to test
eventual
solution

Design product

Build Prototype

Design Overview

Three Components

Registers

Room
Thermostats

Main
Communication
Hub

Registers

Servo used to open and close vent

Communicates via Wi-Fi

Battery powered with trickle chargers

(solar/air)

Receives position instruction from hub

Sends battery life to hub

Room Thermostats

Sends actual room temperature and

temperature requests to main hub

Communicates via Wi-Fi

Main Communication Hub

Receives information from room

thermostats, registers, and phone app

Makes decisions on louvre position and

sends command to registers

Communicates via Wi-Fi

Design
Continued
Communication Flow
Diagram

Alternative
Designs

RF communication as
opposed to Wi-Fi

Infrared remote as
opposed to room
thermostat

RF communication as opposed to Wi-Fi

Pros: lower power consumption,

inexpensive

Cons: prone to interference, lower

reliability at longer distances

Infrared remote as opposed to

thermostat

Pros: lower power consumption,

inexpensive

Cons: easy to lose, possible inaccurate

temperature readings

 Title

47 of Electronic
Applicable
Standards
Code
of Regulations
(RF
Devices)
Regulations

21 of Electronic
Code of Regulations
Regulations
(Food and Drug
Regulations)

and

Title

Institutional

Review
Board (IRB) standards
regarding the rights of
individuals willing to
undergo testing

Standards

Automatic Electrical Controls for

Similar Use

Document #: IEC 60730

Household and

Document #: BS EN 13321-1:2006

Open Data Communication in

building automation,
controls, and
building management

Document #: ISO 16484-2:2004

Building Automation and Control

Systems (BACS)

Bill Of Materials

Room Thermostat

Register

Arduino pro mini

microcontroller

Wi-Fi module

Vent

Servo

Arduino pro mini

microcontroller

Wi-Fi module

LCD screen

Hub

Arduino pro mini

microcontroller

Wi-Fi module

Total Cost: $33

Total Cost: $20

Total Cost: $15

Project Summary
Status and Considerations
Beginning Gantt Chart

Modified Gantt Chart

Happy Holidays!