Overview:

What follows are three different, unique concepts generated over the past couple of
weeks. Consideration was given to brainstormed product ideas that would best
meet design specification in Element C. Since my project is more of a system,
instead of an actual item it is difficult to create multiple ideas. At this point I have
created multiple designs for setup around the house.

Three Initial Concepts:

Shown below are images taken directly from our engineering notebooks. There were
a total of 6 designs brainstormed.
1. Idea 1

AutoComfort

Element D
Harsha Dantuluri

2. Idea 2

3. Idea 3

Design Concept Analysis Matrix

AutoComfort

Element D
Harsha Dantuluri

The analysis of all three design concepts was based on the design specifications
from element C. The design specifications included:
Specification 1:
The AutoComfort shall comply with the National Electrical Code (NEC), or NFPA
70 (and NFPA 70A, NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E), a regionally adoptable standard for
the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States. This is
a disqualifying specification
Specification 2:
The AutoComfort shall provide a software interface for each household member to
configure their calendar interface (such as Google Calendar) and their room(s)
temperature preferences at various events. The events are such as InHome-Day,
Out, InHome-Sleep, InHome-Party, InHome-Cooking etc.
Specification 3:
The AutoComfort shall retrieve the calendars of the households configured.
Specification 4:
The AutoComfort shall calculate the desired temperature of each room based on the
room owners calendar and their preference.
Specification 5:
The AutoComfort shall retrieve the current temperature from sensors installed in
each room.
Specification 6:
The AutoComfort shall send triggers to the AC system to change/maintain the house
temperature with +- 1% of the desired temperature.
Specification 7:
The AutoComfort shall send triggers to open/close/change damper settings in each
room to maintain the temperature of that room at the desired level.
Specification 8:
The AutoComfort shall cost less than $500.00 to produce a prototype, and will have
a target price point of $250 for the control of temperature in two rooms.
All nine specifications are scored on a scale of 1-5, with each number corresponding
to the following rating:
5 = Best (Meets all constraints within that specification)
4 = Very Good (Meets 90% or more of constraints within that specification)
3 = Ok (Mediocre) (Meets 75% or more of constraints within that specification)
2 = Below Average (Meets 60% or more of constraints within that specification)
1 = Bad (Meets less than 60% of constraints within that specification)
Specification 1:
AutoComfort

Element D
Harsha Dantuluri

At this stage of my project, I will not be able to evaluate my ideas for this
specification. This is because NEC standards can only be tested after the product
has been built and wired.
Specification 2:
At this stage of my project, I will not be able to evaluate my ideas for this
specification. This is because I have not programmed the software. After going
through the design process, I will be able to see if these ideas will suit this
specification.

Specification 3:
At this stage of my project, I am planning for my software to retrieve the calendar of
the household. At this point, I wont be able to completely evaluate my ideas for this
specification. Although, all my designs have the AutoComfort device that will be
able to retrieve calendar data.
Specification 4:
At this stage of my project, I cannot evaluate my ideas for this specification. This is
because I have not yet designed the software.
Specification 5:
Idea 1 - 5
All rooms will have sensors. These sensors will essentially take the temperature in
that room and send it to the AutoComfort Device located by the central furnace.
Idea 2 - 5
All rooms will have sensors. These sensors will essentially take the temperature in
that room and send it to the AutoComfort device in the central furnace.
Idea 3 - 5
All rooms will have sensors. These sensors will essentially take the temperature in
that room and send it to the AutoComfort device. This data will then be sent to the
phone application.
Specification 6:
At this stage of my project, I cannot evaluate my ideas for this specification. Mainly
because I have not designed the software.
Specification 7:
At this stage of my project, I cannot evaluate my ideas for this specification. Mainly
because I have not designed the software.
Specification 8:
Idea 1- 5
Idea 2- 4
Idea 3- 3

**Once the software has been planned and then created, I can then evaluate these
specifications**
AutoComfort

Element D
Harsha Dantuluri

Idea 1
Idea 2
Idea 3

Specification 5
5
5
5

Specification 8
5
4
3

Idea 1- 10
Idea 2- 9
Idea 3- 8
Conclusion:
At this point my project is in its very early stages. The main issue I had with creating
a decision matrix is that most of my specifications can only be proven through code
or post build. When I am writing code, I may have to create another decision matrix
and then add it to this element.
Another difference, is that my project does not require any CAD modeling. This is
mainly because my product is programming based and consists of one board.

AutoComfort

Element D
Harsha Dantuluri

AutoComfort

Element D
Harsha Dantuluri