The Automated Home Window Project

Abstract

Terry Walden, a homebuilder and the project sponsor, expressed the need for a vinyl window that can be controlled electronically by a cell phone application. The window will be automated using a Wi-Fi Stepper Microcontroller, a NEMA 23 stepper motor, a worm-gear, and an android application. The automated window will operate by pressing a button on the android phone. This button will send a script to the microcontroller board. From there, the board will control the stepper motor that is attached to the worm gear, effectively closing or opening the window depending on which button was pressed. The frame of the window and the window itself are provided by the sponsor. In order to meet sponsor requirements, the entire electrical and mechanical pieces will fit within a 4inch envelope above the window. The window will fully open, or fully close, within 10 seconds and the voltage to each window will not exceed ~24 VDC. There is an overcurrent sensor that will determine when the window is fully open, fully closed, or obstructed by a foreign object for safety. Opening the window will still be possible manually. The system will operate within the sponsor's needs as it meets each requirement listed in the Specifications Requirements table - which can be found in Chapter 2. To verify that the automated window has met the functional specifications, the test procedures were implemented. The testing specifications have been approved by both the sponsor and Dr. Weissbach. The results of the tests can be found in the Test Specifications document of the report and more information can be found in Chapter 5 of this report.