WALCS
Wireless Automatic Lighting Control System
The goal of this project is to create a wireless lighting control systems that adapts to changes in ambient light and to presence of persons.
Phase 1 is to create the basic prototype for the lighting control.
Phase 2 will be the wireless portion.
Phase 1:
Control System Components;
a. Silicon Labs C8051F340 dev kit
b. Ultrasonic ranger
c. zone lighting
d. photodiode
e. motion detector
Milestone 1: Got the rangefinder working
9/14/09
In this configuration, the rangefinder is enabled periodically by the controller and a range value is read. Some backend coding had to be done to convert it to a int however, since the output of the ranger is "Rxxx'cr'". All value are individual characters, so they need to be parsed and then concantonated to make up an acutal number. The rangefinder has a serial output that is connected to the C8051. I also added a FTDI serial to USB converter so that I could monitor the range values on my PC.
Milestone 2: Was able to convert the int to a number and then divide it to a range.
9/15/09
Once the number was converted. The distances could be broken up to ranges- close(yellow), mid(green) and far(red). An led is then lit corresponding to the range.
Milestone 3: Connect a photodiode to determine ambient light level.
9/16/09
The photodiode's resistance changes corresponding to ambient light level. This level can then be read by the A/D to determine the ambient light. Once that is done, it can basically be used as a switch to determine if the rangefiner should bother sensing at all. The idea here is that if the ambient light is high enough, you don't need a light on.
Milestone 4: Motion detector working
9/17/09
The motion detector will detect movement in the space. If there is no movement, the lighting system will remain off. If there is movement, the rangefinder will try to determine where it is and turn on the closest light source. This system will then track the movement and turn on the appropriate light as the target moves through the zone.
Milestone 5: Added zone sequencing and ontime timeout
9/20/09
The system will not only allow linear transitions from the zones. That is, you have to go from 1->2, 2->3 or vice versa. Also, the zones will disable lighting after a determined ontime.
Milestone 6: Added lighting, PHASE 1 COMPLETE.
9/21/09
I'm using some 3 white LED moudules as my lighting source. Using some TI SN754410 half H drivers, I was able to control three separate modules identically to how the breadboarded LEDs were being driven. Obviously not technically challenging, but used some parts I had laying around. Besides, they're cheap. I can now walk through my dark room and have the white leds guide my travels.