Milestone #3

The image below shows our initial design implementation, featuring a single sensor connected to the Renesas RA0E1 board and a display screen. We utilized the Renesas e2 studio to code the software necessary for this design. The display shows key data, including the current temperature and humidity readings, the fan's theoretical operational percentage, and the user-defined target temperature. 

The fan speed is controlled using a basic fan curve, which adjusts the fan's operation based on the current temperature compared to the desired temperature. For now, the target temperature can be manually set by pressing the onboard button, which cycles the setpoint between 60°F and 90°F. This allows the user to fine-tune the desired room temperature.

Moving forward, we plan to enhance this system by adding more sensors and implementing zoning capabilities. With this expansion, each zone will have its own dedicated fan speed control, enabling more precise climate management in different areas of the room. The zoning feature will provide greater flexibility and energy efficiency, as different areas may require different cooling or heating needs depending on their environment.

Overall, our aim is to have 4 independent clusters, each with its own thermal and humidity sensor. In addition, each zone is planned to have a heating pad for a heat source as well as a vent module for airflow control. Ultimately, all of the individual clusters will be centralized into one main panel as well as possibly a mobile app/controller. 

As shown in the GIF below, our testing setup includes an individual cluster consisting of an OLED display and a temperature/humidity sensor. During testing, we simulate an increase in room temperature by placing a finger over the sensor, which causes a rise in the temperature reading. This change is reflected in real-time on the OLED display, providing immediate feedback. Additionally, we tested the fan speed adjustment mechanism, which dynamically changes based on the user-defined desired temperature. This ensures that the system responds appropriately to shifts in environmental conditions and maintains optimal cooling or heating performance.

Adrian Torres:

• Hardware Design 

• Software Development

• User Interface Development

Nicholas Sakarellos:

• Prototyping

• Software Development

• Planning & Research