Project 2- Week 2

Design Report
AirWatch

Vasco Maria Moreira – 456930

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Table of contents

Table of contents 2
Introduction 3
Design Problem 3
Requirements 4
Design Process 4
Final Design 6
Bill of Materials 9
Conclusion 10
Appendix 11
References 12

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Introduction
Air quality is essential to the health and wellbeing of students.This has a huge impact
on their academic performance. Air watch will be a system that measures smoke,
benzene, vapour and other hazardous gases. This will work in the form of a device
that will periodically take measurements of the air of the room it’s been installed in
and then compare the data it has gathered against a set of configurable thresholds,
which can be set to the environment the device is situated in.
In order to devise this system, multiple sensors were researched, culminating in the
selection of a sensor, which will be elaborated on in a later chapter. Furthermore, an
alarm system was formulated, complete with a high-decibel speaker and a lamp to
alert individuals with either visual or auditory impairments. Additionally, the design of
the housing was settled on.

Design Problem
The issue is that classrooms have poor air quality which leads to many academic
issues such as difficulty concentrating and cognitive behavioural issues. It becomes
harder for students to learn due to poor air quality. For this reason, AirWatch was
invented. It will be a specialised detector that will detect unsafe levels of harmful
gases in the air. In the event of unsafe levels of gas the device will be able to detect
a range of gases that are known to cause health problems, such as carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds and an audible alarm
will sound and a light will flash to alert occupants of the room to evacuate and/or
ventilate. To test the product, alcohol and oxygen will be used to test the product,
however, in practice it will be able to be configured to detect a large range of gases.
This means that our product will be versatile enough to be placed in both
laboratories and regular classrooms. Further expansion of AirWatch will see versions
that will display the concentration of the gases on a computer, however, this
prototype will only alert the occupants of a room of the presence of dangerous
gases.

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Requirements
The requirements had to be updated due to the design changes that the product
underwent. The requirements that the product should fulfil:
● The product needs to be around the same size as a standard smoke alarm, or
maybe slightly bigger.
● The product should have a buzzer and a blinking LED to warn both visually and
audibly impaired people(disability friendly).
● The product does not need to be connected to an external power source i.e.
should be battery operated.
● The product prototype should be produced for under 100 euros to allow for cost
effective production.
● The product should have an ‘always on’ function i.e. should not need to be turned
on every time someone enters a room.

Design Process
Our design process was pretty straightforward, although we did go through a few
ideas before settling on the final design. Let me walk you through our journey and
explain why we made certain choices along the way.

At first, we thought about making the detector circular, but we decided against it
because we didn't want it to look like those old-fashioned smoke detectors. We
wanted something more modern and innovative. Plus, we realised that fitting all the
rectangular components neatly into a circular shape would be a real challenge. It
wouldn't look as nice, you know?

To get some inspiration, we checked out some designs online that used a circular
shape. Although we found some cool ideas, they didn't quite align with our project
goals, so we went in a different direction.

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That's when we got the idea of going for a square box design. It made sense
because we had more surface area to work with, allowing us to arrange the
components neatly and creatively. It solved our problem of creating a fresh and
unique design while also providing practical advantages.

Now, we faced the issue of how to open the box easily when we needed to replace
the battery or work on any other components. We decided to split the box into two
parts. However, this presented a new challenge – finding a closure mechanism that
would be easy to open but also sturdy enough to keep the box securely fixed on the
ceiling.

First, we thought about using a pin system, where the top part of the box would have
small pins along its edges, and the bottom part would have corresponding holes. The
top part would simply slide into the bottom part, creating a secure closure. But it
turned out that the measurements needed to be extremely precise, and we weren't
sure if 3D printing would be accurate enough. So, we dropped that idea.

Then we considered using Velcro to connect the two sides. We could attach strips of
Velcro to the edges of each side and simply stick them together. However, we were
concerned about the strength of the adhesive and whether it would hold up over
time.

Finally, we settled on magnets. They were affordable, and we could find a variety of
strengths easily. Using magnets allowed us to open the box effortlessly when
needed, whether for battery replacement or component maintenance. It struck the
right balance between convenience and keeping the box securely closed.

We also had to think about how to ensure proper airflow within the system. Our
solution was to incorporate slots on the top of the box, allowing air from the
classroom to reach the sensors inside. Initially, we considered horizontal slots, but

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after researching smoke alarm airflow, we realised that circular slots would provide
better coverage and improve the sensors' ability to detect dangerous gases.

By making these decisions, we created a design that combines practicality,

Final Design
The final design of our air quality detector was crafted using Fusion 360 software,
with the intention of eventually 3D printing it. Our primary considerations during the
design process revolved around optimising airflow within the detector, ensuring
enough space for all the components, and eliminating any potential hazards.

The detector's design takes the form of a square box, featuring strategically placed
slots on the top to allow air circulation for the sensors to detect any dangerous
substances. The interior of the box was specifically designed to accommodate all the
components effectively, allowing for adequate ventilation and, most importantly,
providing sufficient space around the sensors to detect traces of hazardous gases.

To enhance accessibility and inclusivity, we incorporated an LED light on the exterior

The dimensions of the box are set at 15 cm by 15 cm, featuring rounded edges that
contribute to its sleek and aesthetically pleasing design. The size was carefully
chosen to accommodate all the necessary components, including two sensors
(MQ-135 and MQ-9), an Arduino Uno, a 9V battery, a buzzer, and an LED. Our aim
was to strike a balance between functionality and user-friendliness while avoiding
bulkiness that could cause a customer to be unsatisfied or complicate the installation
process.

To optimise the use of space, we implemented a stacking system within the box. The
top part of the box (labelled as part A) is divided into two sections using a
recycled/reused piece of plastic from a previous project. This partition securely holds
the 9V battery and Arduino Uno, while the sensors, LED, and buzzer are positioned
below. This arrangement allows for close proximity between the Arduino and battery,
while ensuring that they do not interfere with the operation of the other components.
By providing enough space for the sensors to detect specific substances, ensuring
the LED is visible to everyone in the room, and allowing the buzzer's sound to

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remain clear and audible, we have optimised the functionality and effectiveness of
our detector.

To securely assemble the two parts of the box, we have chosen to use strong
magnets. Each corner of the box will feature a small, round magnet that will hold the
parts together. This magnetic closure mechanism offers both easy opening and
reliable fastening. Although we have yet to conduct practical testing, we are
confident that this design solution will prove effective. For reference, please refer to
Image 3 for a diagram depicting the magnets we have in mind.

Image 3: the magnets.

Finally, while we have successfully addressed many design aspects, we are still
actively exploring options for securely mounting the detector to the room's ceiling.
We have considered various ideas, including adhesive strips, magnetic mounting,
ceiling clips or hooks, adjustable mounting brackets, and suspended wire or cable.
However, the final method of mounting is yet to be determined as we continue to
explore the most suitable and secure option. Although we have not finalised the
specific method at this stage, the aforementioned ideas provide a starting point for
consideration. We are committed to ensuring a comprehensive and user-friendly
design, allowing for easy installation and maintenance.

Our air quality detectors design incorporates carefully considered features such as
optimised airflow, efficient component placement, accessibility enhancements, and a
secure closure mechanism. The assembly and arrangement of the final components
have been planned and executed to achieve optimal functionality and
user-friendliness.

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A B

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Bill of Materials
The materials (Appendix 1) and the ordered components (appendix 2) that will be
used include:
● Sensor 1
○ Part number: MQ-9
○ Description: Carbon monoxide sensor, among other gases
○ Supplier: Hanwei Electronics
● Sensor 2
○ Part number: MQ-135 sensor
○ Description: Multi-gas sensor
○ Supplier: Hanwei Electronics
● Battery
○ Part number: MN1604BKD
○ Description: 9 volt battery as power source for AirWatch
○ Supplier: Duracell
● LED
○ Part number: DLC-6SRD
○ Description: 20mm LED to use as visual alarm system
○ Supplier: KingBright
● Buzzer
○ Part number: X61
○ Description: Buzzer to use as auditory alarm system
○ Supplier: Bens Electronics
● 3D printed casing
○ Part number: N/A
○ Description: 3D printed casing to house all of the components for air
watch, will include a closing mechanism
○ Supplier: Hanze University of Applied Sciences
● Cables
○ Part number: N/A
○ Description: Breadboard cables used to connect all of the electronic
components
○ Supplier: Not specified
● Arduino Uno
○ Part number: A000066
○ Description: The microprocessor for the AirWatch
○ Supplier: Arduino

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Conclusion
In conclusion, maintaining good air quality is vital for students' health and academic
performance. The Air Watch system will play a critical role in ensuring the safety and
well-being of students by constantly monitoring the levels of hazardous gases in the air.
Through the use of sophisticated sensors and configurable thresholds, the system will
provide accurate and timely data, enabling prompt action to be taken when necessary. The
implementation of an alarm system with visual and auditory cues ensures that individuals
with impairments are also alerted to potential dangers. The design of the system, including
the selection of sensors, alarm system, and housing, has been thoughtfully considered and
developed to provide a comprehensive solution that meets the needs of students and the
education community.

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Appendix
Appendix 1: Bill of Materials

Appendix 2: The order form for components

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References
Introduction:
Maastricht University. (2021, February 17). Poor classroom air negatively affects
learning performance. Retrieved from
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/news/poor-classroom-air-negatively-affects-learni
ng-performance#:~:text=Poor%20air%20quality%20delays%20their,closures%20duri
ng%20the%20corona%20crisis.

Design Problem:
Oransi. (n.d.). Poor air quality affects schools. Retrieved from
https://oransi.com/blogs/health-wellness/poor-air-quality-affects-schools

uHoo. (2019, September 24). Air quality affects children’s school performance.
Retrieved from
https://getuhoo.com/blog/education/air-quality-affects-childrens-school-performance/

Design process:
Thingiverse. (n.d.). Face mask frame. Retrieved from
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5246269

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