A remotely controlled autonomous smart window designed for domestic homes that incorporates many modern window accesories into one unit at a low price.
Our project consists of a WiFi controlled autonomous smart window that contains many modern window features including variable tinting, a switchable privacy screen, colorful LED lighting, and more. Users can vary the amount of light coming into their homes to reduce heating as well as reduce the amount of UV and infrared radiation going inside as well. They can also be notified of outside intruders through an LCD screen mounted on the front of the window in which case the window will automatically become frosted white to protect user privacy. Users are also provided a wide range of colors to provide a colorful aesthetic glow effect to their homes at night via the LED strips which can be controlled via the mobile app.
The front of the window is equipped with a small PIR motion sensor that can detect objects at a distance of up to 10m for easy identification of intruders. In order to monitor the light levels coming inside of consumer homes, a photodiode was placed between two laminated polarizers which will relay the amount of lumens of light received to the webserver on our mobile app to decide how the window should adjust the light levels in the home. The webserver running the mobile app was written using the high-level Python programming language which sends commands to the ESP32 microprocessor inside of the window which communicates with the other electrical components via Serial Communication.
Other components used included a L298N motor driver and a NEMA 17 stepper motor which would achieve the variable tinting through rotation of the pulley system mounted inside of the window. An Adafruit 16X2 LCD screen was also used on the front of the window which would display motion sensor information back to users. A PDLC film was placed in front of both ploarizers which could be turned on and off using the mobile app as well. A singular PCB was designed and placed in the window which would power our ESP32 microprocessor and the PDLC film. Various Arduinos were used including the Arduino Uno for controlling the LCD screen and the Arduino Nano for receiving photodiode information.
Electrical Engineering
Abdullah Husain
Photonic Science & Engineering
Bradley Howder
Photonic Science & Engineering
Kenneth Sauers
Computer Engineering