Interactive Floor-Map Heat Maps for Dynamic Energy Zone Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home automation systems lack an easy and interactive way to visualize and dynamically control energy consumption by devices and zones, often compromising user comfort or requiring time to adjust settings, with no straightforward option for end-users to optimize energy usage interactively.
Innovation Solution
A system that visualizes energy consumption on an interactive floor map, allowing users to dynamically adjust energy consumption by percentage and time, using a processor-connected user interface with a display, enabling control over devices such as thermostats, lights, and sensors, and providing feedback on savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing home automation systems are used to control energy consumption, then energy usage can be monitored and adjusted, but the systems lack an easy and interactive way to visualize energy consumption by devices and zones, making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building into multiple zones and devices, with each having its own energy consumption data displayed separately on the floor map. This segmentation allows users to easily identify and control energy usage by specific areas or devices without being overwhelmed by aggregate data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms energy consumption data from abstract numerical values into a spatial visualization on a floor map with heat map overlays. This dimensional transformation from 1D data to 2D spatial representation makes energy consumption patterns immediately visible and intuitive.
2Loss of energy
If traditional systems adjust energy consumption settings, then energy usage can be reduced, but it often compromises user comfort or requires time to adjust settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visualization of energy consumption, allowing users to identify high-consumption areas before making adjustments. This preliminary information enables users to make informed decisions about which devices or zones to optimize, reducing energy consumption effectively while maintaining comfort in occupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor map with heat map visualization dynamically updates to reflect current energy consumption patterns, allowing users to adjust settings in real-time based on actual usage. This dynamic feedback enables flexible optimization without compromising comfort, as users can see the immediate impact of their adjustments.
3Productivity
If detailed energy consumption data is collected for each device and zone, then energy optimization can be improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor map with heat map visualization serves as an intermediary interface between the complex backend data collection system and the user. It aggregates and presents detailed energy consumption data from multiple devices and zones in a simplified spatial format, enabling effective energy optimization without requiring users to navigate complex system settings.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling energy consumption. The system may incorporate devices configured on a floor map, a monitor that detects energy consumption by each device, a heat map shown on the floor map, a processor, and a user interface having a display connected to the processor. The heat map may indicate energy consumption in various areas of the floor plan. The floor map with the heat map may be a screen on the display. The energy consumption by each of the devices from the monitor may be calculated by the processor in time that each device is active and in a power rating of the respective device. The energy consumption by each of the devices may be converted by the processor into cost. From a screen, a user may define a virtual and dynamic zone to optimize and control the energy consumption.