applications and implications

answer these questions

1. What will it do?

These automated photosensitive window shutters which I am calling as Light Curtains, will be used as a shadding device, controlled both manually and by an input device. These vertical louvers will have a cross-section of an equal-armed cross, one arm will be of clear acrylic sheet and the other to be made up of composite. Light curtains will assist a few traces of natural light to penetrate in, through acrylic sheet edge, giving an enigmatic experience to the space.

2. Who has done what beforehand?

In fab lab Egypt, Asem Meselhy in current cycle is doing a similar project called Smart Blinds. As far as mechanism is concerned, it has already been under production in the form of automatic window shutters. One such example could be seen in the following video.

3. What materials and components will be required? Where will they come from? And how much will it cost?

6. What parts and systems will be made?

a.   Enclosure - I will be making a wall and an opening in it by milling 11 mm MDF in CNC machine.
b.   Pivot Hinge - It will be 3D printed to hold in-place window shutters shaped as equal-armed cross.
c.   Window Shutters -These are already made as composites using epoxy resin, two types of burlap and khadi fabric.

7. What processes will be used?

a.   CAD Modelling
b.   3D Printing
c.   Laser Cutting
d.   CNC milling
e.   Composites
f.   Electronics design and Production
g.   Sensor Input and Motor Output Devices

8. What tasks need to be completed?

So far I have the mechanical design of the system ready, I need to work more on its electronics along with programming.

9. What questions need to be answered?

The are a few concerns of which, solutions are yet to be found out. They are as follows:

a.   Physical location of the LDR module to sense the light on the surface of the final object which eventually would send signal to the motor to rotate shutters.
b.   How to programme window shutters to move in predefined patterns?
c.   The final project focuses on the rotation of louvers on vertical plane. What if it needs to be installed in an opening on horizontal or inclined plane, like a slab or a roof? What shortcomings will I face, and in response, what changes do I need to make?

10. What is the schedule?

I have started working on the 3D modelling of pivot hinge and 2D drawings of wall opening and window shutters. I am expecting to finish my final project tentatively by 13 June 2017 with all necessary components and assembly to be ready as per following time schedule:

30 May 2017- Complete set of design should be ready
01 June 2017- Fabrication drawings should be made
03 June 2017- All materials should be procured
06 June 2017- 3D printing and CNC milling to be finished
09 June 2017- Electonic design and production should be done and start programming
12 June 2017- Entire assembly should be ready for videography and documentation
13 June 2017- Finishing final presentation

11. How will it be evaluated?

I should be able to demonstrate the system of window shutters being successfully functioning and changing its orientation according to the incident sunlight on the light sensor. If it does its job, then its a success and it should be evaluted on this parameter.