safety Projects
Accessibility in The Home Depot Smart Home - ADA [project page]
Universal design promotes “products and environments usable by all people to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” Research will address the problem of second floor accessibility alternatives to an elevator, new audible and visual components of systems, adjustable and rotating counters and shelves, front loading and accessible machines, and heights of equipment.
Biometrics and Security [project page]
Biometrics involves using some aspect of the body as a form of identification. Biometrics has not yet gotten widespread use in home systems, but it is still regarded as a generally safe, difficult (though not impossible) to break system. The Biometrics and Security team was primarily involved with two projects. We first did some research about how some different biometrics devices work, such as fingerprint recognition and face recognition.
Fire Safety [project page]
With advanced in-home communication, common fire detection devices can be coupled with new reporting mechanisms to pinpoint locations of fires in relation to home occupants, to relay that information to authorities, and to determine the optimal escape route from any location.
Protecting Public Health - UV Disinfection of Drinking Water [project page]
In addition to degrading organics, Ultra Violet light is currently highly researched for drinking water treatment. It has successfully deactivated both Cryptosporidium and Giardia oocysts and leaves no disinfection byproducts that are often a problem in highly chlorinated water. Atrazine, an s-triazine solid organic herbicide used for weed control throughout the mid-western United States, is the most widely used herbicide in the United States. Irradiation by Ultra Violet light is also on target to be approved by the EPA in the near future.
Security [project page]
Moving beyond traditional lock and key for building access technologies in The Home Depot Smart Home may advance the science of keyless entry and biometric identification. Fingerprint scanners offer versatility, security, cost-effectiveness, reliability, customizability, and cutting-edge technology. Identification via hand-print geometry or iris scanning is neither feasible nor cost-effective for our purposes.
Structural Monitoring [project page]
Fiber optic strands and acoustic emission sensors throughout the structure and foundation will detect any movement, cracks or breaks over time. This system will also allow for research which compares humidity and moisture levels with structural settlement changes.