User-Tracking Fan Control for Targeted Personal Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices lack the ability to dynamically track and target a moving user with a fan positioned on a floor stand, as they are either static or tiltable but not capable of adaptive motion tracking.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device featuring a fan on a positionable floor stand with a camera and processor that rotates and tilts to maintain direction towards a user, using positional motors and software to track the user's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fan is positioned on a static floor stand, then the device structure is simple and stable, but the fan cannot track and target a moving user
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly is transformed from a static structure to a dynamic one by adding motors that enable horizontal rotation and vertical tilting. The fan can now change its orientation continuously to track a moving user, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor stand structure is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it provides stable positioning while also supporting the complex mechanisms needed for dynamic tracking. The integrated design combines stabilization elements with rotational and tilting mechanisms in a single universal structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fan is made tiltable on tracks, then the fan can move to some extent, but it still lacks the ability to dynamically track user motion
Solution Approach 1:
A camera is integrated into the fan assembly to detect user position and motion. The detected information is fed back to a processor that automatically controls the motors to adjust the fan's orientation, enabling dynamic tracking without requiring manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs tracking automatically using the camera and processor to monitor user motion and adjust the fan direction without external control. The device serves itself by autonomously following the user's movements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If positional motors and camera are added to enable tracking, then the fan can target moving users, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera, processor, motors, and fan are merged into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation reduces the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and control systems that would be required if these components were distributed independently.
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamically controlled cooling device includes a stand having deployable legs for positioning the stand on a floor in a selectable position. A fan is coupled to the stand. A fan direction motor is coupled to the stand for selectively rotating the fan relative to the stand. A camera having a targeting function for identifying a person within a field of vision of the camera is coupled to the fan. A processor is operationally coupled to the camera and the fan direction motor to rotate the fan to point at the person.