1. Smart Window Blinds By: David Morgan

2. Idea Origination • Repetitive process of opening window blinds • Open during the day for plants to absorb sunlight • Close during the night for privacy • Such smart blinds are not sold in stores. The only match, is button blinds.

3. Smart Blind Function • When light sensor detects light open the blinds • When light sensor detects no light, close the blinds • A button where a user can manually bypass the light sensor • Original idea was to power the hardware by mini solar panels, but user feedback eliminated this idea

4. Project Hardware • Arduino - microcontroller board, which makes logical decisions • Wires - steel wires covered with plastic insulation, which connect hardware components • Servo motor - 360 degrees motor, which opens and closes the blinds • Servo connectors - connects the servo motor to the window blinds • Solder - metal alloy when melter, firmly binds two metal hardware pieces and conducts electricity • Glue - adhesive material which binds two components together and acts as an insulator • Window blinds - regular blinds on which will be used for demonstrating project • Light sensor - detects and reports on the brightness of the light • Resistors - 10K resistor, to lower voltage • Button - button used for manually opening and closing the blinds • Plastic – plastic box for Arduino

5. Project Tools • Desktop Computer - runs Arduino program • Arduino Software - code for Arduino is written in it • Google Sketchup - plots 3-d objects, for plastic printer • Documentation sources- books and websites which provide documentation how to use software • Plastic printer - prints outer box using plastic which would extent the life of device by protecting it from: • External damage - i.e. If it falls down or someone accidentally bumps it, the device would stay in one piece • Dust - dust on naked hardware could create contacct for electricity and cause some componet to melt • USB cable - type A male to type B female cable, which • Soldering Iron - melts solder, to hold hardware components together • Breadboard - Board used to connect components together, before soldering • LEDs - lights used for testing purposes • Multimeter - tests voltage, amps and watts to detect the problem and determine which component is not functioning • Hot Glue Gun - melt the glue, to hold non-metal components together • Google Sketchup & Plastic Printer Software – used to design platic box

6. Testing & Unexpected Issues • Flourescent Light Blinking Issue - Sunlight and Moonlight test passed • Servo attachment & slippage issue • Unreliable hardware malfunction • Servo and light sensor not always precise

7. User Feedback • Many end-users do not care about project specifics as long as Smart blinds perform their function correctly • Condense physical hardware seen to the end-user • Implement a clock to better accurately know when to close and when to open blinds • Remote control to open/close blinds