Gudrun

BRIEF

SUNSYNC | An Automated Curtain

SunSync is an automatic curtain-drawing robot designed to make your life easier by adjusting your curtains based on the brightness outside.

SunSync is not just an automatic solution but also user-controllable. It is a compact and sleek robot that can be easily attached to your curtain track.

TYPE

Mechatronics Engineering

SKILLS

Product Design · Electronics · Coding

TEAM

Group Project

DEMO

In Action

RESEARCH

Understanding the Pain Points

It can be a hassle to open and close curtains manually, especially if they are heavy or hard to reach. In the summer it can get hot if the curtains are open, leading to temperature fluctuations.

Elders and people with disabilities can have a hard time opening and closing curtains.

Automated curtains can simulate occupancy by opening and closing at random times — serving as a security measure that decreases the risk of break-ins.

PROCESS

Ideation

The goal was to make a curtain that automatically opens and closes. When the brightness exceeds a certain level, the curtain closes, and when the brightness decreases, the curtain opens. We also wanted to be able to open and close the curtains using a smartphone.

DEVELOPMENT

3D Modelling & Prototyping

We modeled the smart curtain in Solidworks. We printed the models using a 3D printer. We made a few prototypes that failed but kept upgrading them until we were satisfied.

DESIGN

Design & Functionality

We added a spring on the bottom of the motor platform to create resistance on the curtain track, allowing the wheel to run on the track.

The gap on the box is for the light sensor to register brightness. We used Adafruit Metro and Circuit Python to program it.

It opens and closes according to brightness level, can be controlled from phone or computer, can drag a 500g curtain at least 1 meter, holds a steady speed at 0.25 m/s, and is easy to set up.

FINAL

The Finished Product

REFLECTION

What I Learned

I learned a lot from this project — how to design, prototype, connect electronics, and program. I also learned many lessons, for example how a simple project can be remarkably difficult to execute well, and how to design a project from the ground up to a finished product.