ENGINEERING TEAM PROJECT

Project Proposal:

THE SMART ROOF

By

GROUP 033

SAMUEL WONG WENG FAI 22367 EE

JANE ROBERT GAU 21307 CE

NIK HAFIY HAFIZI BIN NIK RAHIMY 21380 CE

LINA KAMILIA BINTI AHMAD 20944 ME

AMIRUL AZREF AFIQ BIN AREFFIN 20833 ME

Supervisor:

IR DR IDRIS OTHMAN

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MAY 2017
TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Short Summary/ Abstract 2

2. Problem Statement 3

3. Problem Objectives 4

4. Background Study 5

5. Design Approach / Methodology

5.1 Procedures
6
5.2 Plan and Schematic Flow Process of the Project 7
5.3 Hardware Tools and Software 8
5.4 Initial Sketch of Prototype 9

6. Project Management

6.1 Task Allocation and Activities 10

6.2 Schedule / Gantt Chart 11

7. Documentation

7.1 References 12

7.2 Site Visit 13

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 1. ABSTRACT

In this modern era, not all countries and places that are living with comfortable housing areas,
facilities and infrastructures. Some residents still live in rural areas like village instead of more
modern areas such as in town. Based on research, most of the housing in villages has open air
roof which acts as an air ventilation which the villagers needs to close the roof manually if it
rains. However, what will happen if it rains heavily and no one is at home?

Therefore, our group proposed an idea to create an invention that will help to lessen their burden
called Smart Roof. Smart Roof is operated by a bi-directional motor and controlled by a micro-
controller. This invention can be controlled either by manually pressing on and off button or
automatically by the sensors. The materials we used to create this project include: vinegar battery
as the power source, Perspex, Arduino Uno board, water sensor, stepper motor and so on.

Through research and information gathering of this project, we innovate the Smart Roof to be
portable and also can operate automatically. The purpose of this project is to create conducive
environment for the villagers to stay in. Hence, the main task to compete this project is to
construct the roof proposed which can close automatically when it rains in the housing area.

All tasks will be distributed equally among team members and needs to be completed according
to the Gantt chart that has been created along with the given timeline of the tasks allocation. This
project paper will discuss about problem statement, objective, background study, methodology
and project flow in order to ensure the smoothness of this project.

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 2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

For many years, open-air compound which acts as traditional facility of village housing,
particularly in Chinese house is used as kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, or even dining room.
To be specific, it is also widely used in the village of Perak Tengah society.

Nowadays, the primary issue that the villagers especially people that live in Chinese
house area is the point at which it rain, the air ventilation facility of their house or its specific
name is “open air compound” will be exposed to the rain. Some people will close it up manually
by utilizing the portable roof but the action was time-consuming and troublesome. The situation
worsened when no one was at home to close the roof if it rains. Most of the villagers is also fitted
with a low standard of living and simple. Hence, they cannot afford or are not willing to renovate
their house which cost high or move to another house.

An article has reviewed studies that some people were also facing these problems and
try to look out the solution which they want facility that can give them all the options they need
to open the roof and let the outside in and equipped with rain sensors.

Therefore, Smart Roof offers villagers a solution to those problems regarding to the
open-air compound to lighten their burden. Smart roof is portable and can operate automatically
when it rains or shine in the housing area.

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 3. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Smart roof will give better life to the villagers as it will provide auto control of environment in
the house and help to complete daily task. Therefore, our project objectives are:

 To develop a prototype of mechanical roof that automatically close and open due to
environmental effect.
 To design a flexible shape of model to be user’s friendly product for every type of house.
 To produce effective cost product in order for villagers to complete their daily task by
using the product.
 To provide solution for villagers on unpredicted weather condition which give problem to
their daily life.

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 4. BACKGROUND STUDY

Open air compound is a traditional facility of village housing, especially in Chinese

house. Most of the houses in Chinese village have this kind of facility. The purposes of the open
air compound, first, provide free and natural sunlight. During cold weather, it allows more
sunlight and heat shine into the house. Second, it provides a cooling effect and fresh air
throughout the house, improves the air ventilation of the house and reduces the air moisture in
the house. Most of the open-air compound is used as kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, or even
dining room.

However, the main problem of this facility is when it rain, the compound will be exposed
to the rain. Some people will close it up manually by using the portable roof. This action is
taking time and quite annoying. What will happen when there is nobody at home? Most of the
villagers are working as labor from middle and lower classes, they are not willing to renovate
their house which cost high or move to another house. So after taking all the problems regarding
to the open air compound, we have come out with an idea to lighten their burden, Smart Roof.

Smart roof is a portable roof that operated by a bidirectional motor and controlled by a
microcontroller. We can control the open and close of the roof by pressing a button. Smart roof
can detect the sunlight intensity and rain drop. When the rain drop is detected, then roof will
close up automatically. When the rain is over, the roof will open again. For the power source
part, we use vinegar cell, which we can do it our own with some eco-friendly low cost materials.

The vinegar cell is the safer and cheaper compare to another type of battery considering
that it does not concern toxic or radioactive substances. It’s also can be categorized as one of
renewable energy due to unlimited source of vinegar. Battery with using vinegar as it sources to
generate energy gives us an opportunity in a long-lasting power supply. To build the battery, the
materials needed would be copper, aluminum, zinc, and vinegar. Most of the materials can be
found in our daily life. Therefore, it would not be a shortage of material for large production on
vinegar cell.

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 5. DESIGN APPROACH / METHODOLOGY
5.1 Procedures

Before doing the prototype

 Research and collecting data is being done by all the members on selection of materials, suitable
sensor, and the dimension of the frame.
 Preparing all the material required to build the prototype
 Meeting with supervisor to get advices and guidance to make sure that our project is carried out
in a correct way.

During build the prototype

 All of the members are involve in building the prototype.

 The body frame of the house is built by Perspex, which in charged by Amirul and Lina.
 There is a portable roof that is connected with a bidirectional motor.
 This bidirectional motor is controlled by Arduino Uno board.
 The programming part will be done by Samuel.
 A water sensor is used to detect the presence of rain.
 A switch is installed to operate the portable roof manually.
 A vinegar battery is built as a power source for your prototype which in charged by Nik
and Jane.

After build the prototype

 At this moment, the prototype is tested and modification is made to improve the performance.
 Making report of the success and failure if any.
 Meeting with supervisor to get advice and guidance for future actions.

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 5.2 Plan and Schematic Flow Process of the Project

Start

Brainstorming of
ideas and project title

Consult supervisor

No
Approval

Yes

Research and innovate project

Completion of project proposal

Mechanical Chemical Electrical &

Engineering Engineering Electronic
Design the structure Selection of Engineering
of the system Material Determine the sensor
used and circuitry

Fundamental Engineering Calculation

Development of prototype

Testing of prototype

No Identify and fix the

Function? problem
Yes
Presentation & Final Report
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End
 5.3 Hardware / Tools and Software.

Hardware/Tools Function
Hand tools To build/fabricate the prototype model
E.g., hand saw, sand paper, other
mechanical tools and etc.
Perspex Main part of the body frame of the house prototype.
Instead of using glass which is fragile, Perspex is
preferable since it is easy to use and cut.

Super glue A very strong fast acting adhesive to joint Perspex. It will
be used to build the body frame of the house prototype.
Arduino Uno board Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the
ATmega328P. It used as the Brain of the whole prototype.
Stepper motor A brushless DC electric motor
Breadboard A thin plastic board used to hold electronic components
together without soldering.
Multi meter To test the voltage and current produced by the vinegar
cell.
Vinegar To make vinegar cell
Zinc nails
Aluminum cans
Copper wires
Bottles

Software Function
Microsoft Office For documentation which includes proposal, progress report, final
report, slide presentation.
AutoCAD and/or CATIA -To design and draw the structure model of the system in 2D and
3D
-To draft the designed model
Adobe Photoshop For designing poster for presentation.
ARDUINO 1.8.3 The open-source Arduino Software (IDE) makes it easy to write
code and upload it to the board.

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5.4 Initial Sketch of Prototype

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 6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

6.1 Task Allocation and Activities

Members Task Allocation and Activities

SAMUEL WONG WENG FAI - Plan weekly activities on the project and divide
22367 the task among the member
EE - Monitor the progress of the project and ensure
(TEAM LEADER) the members complete the task on time
- Conduct the meeting and arrange the meeting
with the supervisor
- Responsible in design and methodology of the
project
- Program the arduino microcontroller.
JANE ROBERT GAU - Compile all documentation regarding the
21307 project
CE - Conduct research on the testing of the
prototype
- Build Vinegar cell prototype
- Conduct testing on the prototype
- Carry out additional research on the materials
and project
NIK HAFIY HAFIZI - Draft the budget for the project
BIN NIK RAHIMY - Manage financial of the group Survey and buy
21380 the material used for the project
CE - Build Vinegar cell prototype
- Carry out additional research on the materials
and project
LINA KAMILIA - Develop body frame of the prototype.
BINTI AHMAD - Carry out additional research on the materials
20944 and project
ME - Survey and buy the material used for the
project
- Conduct testing on the prototype
AMIRUL AZREF AFIQ - Conduct research on the project based on
BIN AREFFIN Machanical aspect.
20833 - Conduct research on the testing of the product
ME - Develop body frame of the prototype.
- Conduct testing on the prototype
- Design prototype using AUTOCAD
- Design poster for the presentation

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 6.2 Gantt Chart

Task
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Week

Group Division

Selection of Theme and Idea

Task Distribution

Designing Prototype

Preparing Proposal

Material Listing

Surveying Material

Purchasing Material

Project Proposal Submission

Develop Prototype

Prototype Testing

Progress report submission

Designing poster for presentation

Submission form 03

Evaluation on fabrication

Pre-SEDEX

SEDEX

Claim Form Submission

Peer Evaluation

Final report

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7. DOCUMENTATION

7.1 References

1. Maxwell, L. (2017). Arduino: the ultimate beginners guide. Place of publication not

identified: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

2. Amell, C. (2015). DIY: (do it yourself). Barcelona: Monsa.

3. http://www.nxp.com/assets/documents/data/en/application-notes/AN2974.pdf

4. https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/Stepper

5. https://www.scienceworld.ca/resources/activities/vinegar-batteries

6. http://www.cool-solar-stuff.com/solar-diy/diy-vinegar-battery-lights-led/

7. http://www.slimlinealuminium.co.uk/products/electric-sliding-opening-roof-

lights/slimline-slidalite/

8. https://forums.tesla.com/de_DE/forum/forums/does-pano-roof-sense-rain-and-close

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 7.2 Site Visit

Location 1：Kampung Pasir Pinji Location 2:Jalan Pasir Mas, Taman Mayfair

Location 3: Jalan Bunga Anggerik, Pasir Puteh

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