Background

A system in the home is any class of functions that are done in the normal day-to-day operation of the home. For example, these systems can be found in a typical private home: the kitchen system for the storage and preparation of food, and the disposal of waste; the heating and air-conditioning system is for heating and cooling the interior of the home; the security system is for securing the home from intruders; and so forth. Home automation is a system that automatically controls and operates some part of a system, for example where the heating and air-conditioning system heats and cools a house automatically according to a timer and thermostat. Smart home is another name for home automation. In principle, any system and sub-system of the home can be automated, and the goal is to improve their performance and efficiency, and the well-being of the occupants.
​​​​​​​A smart electronic device is a useful instrument, machine, or gadget that is controlled by electronic circuitry microcontroller boards, or sometimes by a single-board computer like a Raspberry Pi, and that perform only a few limited functions. We have many different kinds of devices at home, on our person, or at school to perform useful work for us, or to provide us with information, in order to increase our well-being.
 

The design brief

Design a home automation system for your home, using simple electronic circuitry, or a microcontroller board like the Arduino. The home automation system may perform any kind of useful work, such as cleaning, maintenance, information, communications and so forth; and it may be used in any part of your house, either inside or outside, such as the living areas, kitchen, garden, and so forth. The automation system may be portable or fixed, as you wish. Construct a working prototype of your home automation system and test it. Alternatively, you may build a computer-aided design (CAD) model of your design concept, if you prefer. Work on this project in a small team with a group of your classmates.

​​​​​The design thinking process

Follow the six stages of the design thinking process to ensure that you are thorough and do everything necessary to succeed in your design project. First, you endeavour to understand the design topic and EMPATHISE with the needs of the users. With that understanding, you can DEFINE what is essential to the product or system that you are designing. Then you IDEATE, that is, you creatively come up with ideas and develop them. The next step is to PROTOTYPE your chosen design solution in a physical form and improve it through trial-and-error. Then you TEST your design idea to elicit the opinions of users. And finally, at the end of the process, you REFLECT upon your project to benefit from the experience. Use the appropriate methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website as you proceed along the design thinking process.
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Note for teachers

Undertaking a student design project using electrical parts or microcontrollers such as Arduino requires:

• teachers who are able to supervise such a project;
• laboratories or workshops with electrical and electronic parts and tools;
• ​​​​​​​and students who are trained to work with electricity, tools, and equipment.

Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the PROTOTYPE Stage for Level IV to safely supervise this design project.