Project Overview

Problem Overview:
Create a daylight-matching lighting system that is energy-efficient with lowered carbon footprint and reduced operational costs to ensure the most renewable and environmentally friendly product [12].

Design Constraints:
Must consider light mounting height, reflective surfaces, LED configuration, spectral analysis, and position within the room.
Must take price and the environment into account to create the most efficient product.
Must use the daylight as code input so that the light responds to the environment.
Must positively affect the well-being of the residents.
Must use an existing program and existing data to create the code that mimics the environment.

Pre-Existing Solutions:
A number of solutions have been proposed, each with their strengths in respective areas. Most of the proposals focus particularly on the ability of the light bulb to simulate daylight. Research has been done already to determine the positive effects of the lights, and how to create them. There is research already done that suggests the positive health effects of color-changing lights to aid the circadian cycle [8]. The product has begun development, so this product must be developed independently with various solutions. Dr. Ellis has created a lighting schedule of a normal day's sky, which will be used as basis for the color-changing code [3].

Design Goal:
The sensor will be developed to try to make a more efficient product. A new method for the color change will be coded so that it corresponds with how daylight changes, and it will have a friendly interface which allows the user to adjust brightness depending on his or her needs. The project will focus on creating the code for the colors, rather than the hardware that will display this code. MATLAB will be used to develop a code that will mimic a typical day.

Project Deliverables:
The final product will be installed in St. Francis Country House so that the mood and sleep schedule of the residents will improve. The product will consist of a code that mimics daylight and a simulation that will display this code. It will be economically and environmentally efficient.

Project Schedule:
Week 1: Meet with group for initial planning.
Week 2: Begin planning design. End the day with a defined planning design and a skeleton for the prototype.
Week 3: Have project plan finished. Have an idea that incorporates all of the aspects included in the problem overview, such as daylight simulation and energy efficiency.
Week 4: Begin developing method of completion. Have a somewhat completed layout of the design of light bulb.
Week 5: Begin developing the sensor method. Finish the method of completion. Ensure that the sensor method has a concrete, real-world application that can be achieved using relatively cheap materials.
Week 6: Have code developed for sensing light temperature. Make sure that it will take the sunlight wavelengths as an input and output an instruction to the temperature sensor to adjust the wavelengths and brightness of the light bulbs.
Week 7: Test and experiment with the light temperature code to see how it works. Use it over the course of the day to make sure it responds to different types of light.
Week 8: Implement sensor code. Adjust it as needed to make sure that it successfully inputs the information on the sunlight and outputs the corresponding intensity and light.
Week 9: Complete light fixture with sensor. Test it to make sure that it works in a normal day.
Week 10: Have project and presentation completed.