Multi-way residential sensor device platform
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current home automation systems are expensive, difficult to install, and user-unfriendly, requiring complex instructions to control home aspects effectively.
Innovation Solution
A residential sensor device platform with a wireless mesh network of sensor devices that communicate with each other and a wireless router, using processors to sense conditions, share information, and control electrical devices based on sensed data, providing self-healing, self-learning, and cost-effective home automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional home automation systems are implemented, then home control functionality is achieved, but system cost and installation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The home automation system is divided into independent sensor devices that can be individually installed and configured. Each sensor device operates as a standalone unit with local processing capabilities, eliminating the need for complex centralized installation while maintaining full system functionality through wireless mesh networking.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensor devices automatically configure themselves when added to the network, performing self-registration, self-testing, and automatic parameter optimization. The system enables users to simply plug devices in without requiring technical knowledge of installation procedures, as the devices autonomously integrate into the mesh network and begin operation immediately.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional home automation systems are implemented, then home control functionality is achieved, but user operation becomes difficult and requires complex instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic configuration, device discovery, and parameter optimization without user intervention. When a sensor device is added, it automatically registers with the network, discovers available electrical controls, and configures control parameters based on environmental sensing data, eliminating the need for users to follow complex setup instructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors environmental conditions and automatically adjusts electrical control parameters based on real-time sensor data. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to user needs dynamically without requiring manual programming or complex user configuration, simply by observing and responding to actual usage patterns.
3Extent of automation
If sensor devices continuously sense and share information, then home automation intelligence improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensor devices perform sensing and data transmission in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The devices alternate between low-power sensing mode and active communication mode, transmitting data only when environmental parameters change beyond thresholds or at scheduled intervals, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses event-driven feedback where sensor devices activate full sensing and communication functions only when environmental conditions warrant attention. During normal stable conditions, devices operate in sleep mode with minimal power consumption, awakening automatically when sensors detect changes that require system response, thus balancing automation intelligence with energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations generally relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for a residential sensor device platform. In some implementations, a system includes a plurality of sensor devices. Each sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices communicates with a wireless router and with other sensor devices of the plurality of sensor devices. Each sensor device includes one or more sensors operative to sense conditions in a living space and includes one or more processors. The one or more processors operative to perform operations comprising determining one or more conditions in the living space, wherein at least one condition of the one or more conditions is associated with activity in the living space. The one or more processors are further operative to perform operations comprising sharing, with the other sensor devices, information associated with the one or more conditions. The one or more processors are further operative to perform operations comprising controlling one or more operations of one or more electrical controls based at least in part on the information associated with the one or more conditions.