Remote Energy Control Using Occupancy and Weather Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote device control and energy monitoring systems lack the ability to automatically adjust energy consumption based on real-time occupancy patterns and weather conditions, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes sensors to monitor occupancy and weather data, analyzing this information against predefined rules to automatically control energy-consuming devices such as thermostats and lighting systems, optimizing energy usage by adjusting settings based on user presence, geographic location, and weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If energy-consuming devices are kept active to ensure user convenience, then user convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts device operation states based on real-time occupancy detection and weather conditions. Devices transition between active and inactive states according to changing environmental factors and user presence, optimizing the balance between convenience and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors occupancy status and weather data, then uses this feedback to automatically control energy-consuming devices. The feedback loop ensures devices are activated only when genuinely needed, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining user convenience.
2Loss of energy
If energy-consuming devices are activated based on real-time monitoring, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the property into multiple monitored zones with independent occupancy detection. Each zone can be independently controlled, allowing selective activation of devices in specific areas rather than throughout the entire property, thereby improving energy efficiency without requiring overly complex centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses weather data and occupancy sensors as intermediaries to automatically mediate device control decisions. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of real-time monitoring and decision-making, simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving improved energy efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If automated control rules are implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but adaptability to unique user preferences decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to pre-configure their preferences and rules for device control before actual operation. These preliminary settings establish the framework for automated control, enabling the system to reduce energy consumption while respecting individual user preferences through pre-defined adaptability parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of control parameters and thresholds based on user feedback and changing conditions. This allows the automated rules to adapt to unique user preferences over time, maintaining energy reduction benefits while increasing versatility and personalization.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing remote device (e.g., thermostat, lighting, appliance, etc.) control and/or energy monitoring. A system monitors sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties and status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties. The system analyzes the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules and performs an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.