General Design Goals

Minimum cost

• Shall cost ~20% of homeowner's saved money (Subject to Change)

Minimum maintenance and ease of maintenance

• Shall require a 1-3 yearly inspection

• Shall provide a home-breaker inspection service

Specific Design Goals

• Shall quantitate end-user's energy efficiency into score

• Shall utilize Artificial Intelligence to give insight

1. Will conduct extensive market research and connect with homeowners

2. Will address technical feasibility of real-time monitoring and AI-based insights

3. Will design and prototype 

4. Will address safety & regulations compliance

5. Will address environmental sustainability

6. Will market and facilitate public acceptance

7. Will perform reliability and performance testing

8. Will implement a user-interface development

9. Will implement energy efficiency and AI implementation

10. Will implement data security and privacy measures

11. Will perform maintenance and customer support strategy

12. Will perform manufacturing plan

13. Will assess cost-effectiveness & ROI

14. Will implement scalability

Real-time and uninterrupted monitoring of energy consumption through an installable device. Must address technical implications of data security, system scalability, user-friendliness, effectiveness on ROI, accuracy, and safety measures.

Path Elimination

Throughout the course of this project, various design paths and alternatives were considered, and some were eliminated based on technical feasibility, cost, safety, and alignment with design goals. The following outlines the paths that shall be considered and the rationale behind path elimination:

Choice of Monitoring Technology:

Path 1: Non-Invasive Current Transformers: Considered the use of non-invasive split core current transformers for energy monitoring.

Path 2: Invasive Current Measurement: Explored the possibility of invasive current measurement methods. Also can control circuits.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated due to safety concerns associated with invasive methods. Non-invasive transformers align with safety and design goals.

Data Transmission Technology:

Path 1: Wi-Fi (ESP8266): Considered using ESP8266 Wi-Fi development boards for data transmission.

Path 2: Wired Communication: Explored the use of wired communication methods.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated to ensure user-friendliness, ease of installation, and to minimize environmental impact. Wi-Fi aligns with design goals and user expectations.

Data Security Measures:

Path 1: Advanced Encryption: Considered implementing advanced encryption methods.

Path 2: Basic Encryption: Explored the possibility of basic encryption for data security.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated to meet stringent data security requirements. Advanced encryption ensures safety and data protection.

User Interface Development:

Path 1: Custom User Interface: Considered developing a custom user interface for homeowners.

Path 2: Third-Party Solutions: Explored third-party user interface options.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated to ensure a smooth and functional interface tailored to our specific design goals and user needs.

Data Insights and AI Implementation:

Path 1: Machine Learning Models: Considered using machine learning models for data insights.

Path 2: Basic Algorithms: Explored using basic algorithms for data analysis.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated to harness the power of machine learning, providing accurate and valuable insights to homeowners.

Environmental Impact Reduction:

Path 1: Recycled Materials: Considered using recycled materials in product manufacturing.

Path 2: New Materials: Explored the use of new materials.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated to minimize environmental impacts and support sustainability goals.

Marketing Strategy:

Path 1: Extensive Market Research: Considered conducting extensive market research.

Path 2: Limited Market Research: Explored a more focused approach to market research.

Elimination: Path 2 was eliminated to ensure the product addresses diverse user needs and safety concerns.