january 30, 2017 andrew h. rawicz school of engineering...
TRANSCRIPT
January 30, 2017
Andrew H. Rawicz
School of Engineering Science
Simon Fraser University
V5A 1S6
Re: ENSC405W Project Proposal – VentNet Home Heating Control System
Dear Dr. Rawicz,
We are Aeolus Systems and we wish to seek your approval for the VentNet Home Heating
Control System.
Please find attached Aeolus System’s proposal for the VentNet Home Heating Control System,
which provides an introduction on this project and an analysis on its viability. The goal of our
project is to design a cost-effective and easy to install home heating control system that can
divide a furnace heated home into multiple heating zones.
In this proposal are details regarding the market viability for our product, a description of the
system design and interactions, our planned development schedule, and a cost breakdown for the
development phase. Although this project carries some risks, we believe that with the analyzed
market viability, our unique proposed implementation, and an efficient development schedule,
we can produce a competitive product on time and within budget.
Aeolus Systems consists of 4 experienced senior computer engineering students each with
industry experience and a hobby in embedded systems development. The founding members of
Aeolus Systems are Paul Khuu, Jeremy Leung, James Voong, and Steven Zhou. A detailed
company profile is provided in the proposal document for your perusal.
Thank you for reviewing our proposal for the VentNet Home Heating Control System. If you
have any further questions, please feel free to contact me by phone (778-708-8679) or email
Sincerely,
Steven Zhou
Chief Executive Officer
Project Proposal
VentNet Home Heating Control System
by
James Voong
Jeremy Leung
Paul Khuu
Steven Zhou
JANUARY 30, 2017
Version 1.35
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Executive Summary
Forced-air furnaces are used by the majority of homeowners in North America because of its ability to heat
houses easily. “Turn up the temperature on your thermostat, and seconds later warm air comes blowing out
of the registers” [1]. However, an issue arises by the number of vents and thermostats available. Typically,
there are a limited number of thermostats in the house, indicating the lack of precise information as rooms
with vents but without sensors would not be able to provide feedback to the main thermostat, leading to
heating inconsistencies in the house and wasted heat. At Aeolus Systems, we devised the VentNet Home
Heating Control System to provide homeowners with extensive control over their heating system to promote
comfort and cost-savings.
The VentNet is a combination of multiple individual smart modules formed into a cohesive system with four
main features consisting of: individual zone temperature control, web/smartphone application interface, the
master thermostat module, and the low-power wireless communications system. To complement these
features, four major components will be developed: the smart thermostats, the router module, the room
sensors, and the motorized vent covers. Users will be able to control the system through the web/smartphone
application or manually on the VentNet thermostat. Additionally, the application will provide users the
ability to monitor their heat usage and schedule customized heating patterns. By providing these
functionalities for homeowners, the VentNet promotes comfort through optimal heating and cost-savings by
minimizing the previous carelessly wasted heat.
Current products exist today that try to tackle this issue but they fail in certain areas. Some fail by not
offering a main thermostat for their heating solution system and others fail by not having motorized vents for
variable heating. Additionally, these solutions are all quite expensive, so we at Aeolus Systems desire to
compete by offering a fully integrated ecosystem with a lower price point. Stretch goals such as self-energy
harvesting modules and custom component PCBs are also detailed out, after development has been
completed for the prototype so that there is an additional factor for differentiating Aeolus Systems from its
competitors. For an initial price estimation, the tentative budget is set at $605 which we will apply for
through the Engineering Students Society Endowment Fund (ESSEF) and the Wighton Engineering
Development Fund.
Aeolus Systems consists of four aspiring fifth-year engineering students that hope to make an impact in the
world. Having experience in a variety of co-op terms with different companies, we all hope to translate those
skills to deliver a product that would be reliable and usable.
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Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... I
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................ III
LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................................................. III
GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................................................................... IV
1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1
2 PRODUCT SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 PRODUCT DESIGN ......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 3
2.3 MARKET RESEARCH ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2.4 COST CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 6
3 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................................ 6
3.1 COST CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 8
3.2 BENEFITS ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
4 PROJECT PLANNING ..................................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 SCHEDULE AND TIMELINE ............................................................................................................................ 9
1. Brainstorming and Project Proposal Phase ................................................................. 11
2. Commencement and Project Functional Specification Phase ..................................... 11
3. Integration and Project Design Specification Phase ................................................... 11
4. System Testing and Demonstration Phase .................................................................. 11
5. Design Refinement Phase ........................................................................................... 11
4.2 FUNDING..................................................................................................................................................... 12
5 COMPANY PROFILE .................................................................................................................................... 12
6 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................. 14
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................... 15
APPENDIX .......................................................................................................................................................... 16
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Canadian Home Heating Systems in 2011 ......................................................................................... 1
Figure 2: System Diagram of the VentNet System ............................................................................................ 3
Figure 3: Simplified Gantt Chart ........................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 4: Flowchart for Project Structure ........................................................................................................ 10
List of Tables
Table 1: Comparison of VentNet and Competitors ............................................................................................ 5
Table 2: Price Estimation for Prototype Parts .................................................................................................... 6
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Glossary
Air Vents An opening in the home’s duct network from where hot air is
released into the house.
Duct A channel allowing for the passage of air. In the context of this
document, used to refer to home heating ducts that transport hot air
from the furnace.
Furnace A common home appliance for heating the house. It is connected to
a blower and duct network to distribute the hot air.
Heating Zone Defines a specific space (set of rooms, etc.) capable of independent
control over its temperature. Furnace homes often have one heating
zone whilst electric and boiler homes have multiple.
Home Automation The use of computers to control basic home functions such as
heating, lighting, security, etc.
IoT Internet of Things, the internetworking of physical devices to allow
for the exchange of data.
Microcontroller An integrated circuit dedicated to performing one specific task.
PCB Printed Circuit Board
Smart Devices An electronic device capable of communicating with other devices
that is able to operate interactively and autonomously to some
degree.
Thermostat A device capable of reading ambient air temperatures and
connected to the furnace to control furnace output based on
temperature setting.
WebApp A typical client-server software application where the client
interface runs in a web browser.
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1 Introduction
When talking about home heating in Canada, “[furnaces are] the main type of heating system used by
Canadian households in 2011” with a reported 57% of the population of Canada utilizing one as shown
below in figure 1 [2]. “A furnace works by blowing heated air through ducts that deliver warm air to rooms
throughout the house via air registers or grills” [3] and this is controlled by thermostats which contain
sensors that measure the ambient temperature of the room. Typically speaking, thermostats are placed in
convenient and frequently-accessed locations of the house so that the heating is most precise within these
zones. A costly and problematic issue arises due to the limited quantity of thermostats as areas without
sensors have poor information on the temperature of the room. Heating inconsistencies, such as cold and hot
spots, derive from this issue and as such, furnaces “will have to work harder than it should in order to heat
[homes] evenly” [4] leading to higher energy bills and heating inefficiency. To address this concern, we
devised the VentNet system.
FIGURE 1: CANADIAN HOME HEATING SYSTEMS IN 2011
VentNet is a robust solution for solving heating inconsistencies using a combination of sensors and smart
vents. The VentNet system offers wireless vents, to induce variable heating, and smart thermostats
seamlessly controlled through the VentNet web application. Our smart vents open and close according to the
accurate information provided by the system’s sensors and thermostats, indicating precise controls for
flexibility and comfort. Through the web application, users shall have the convenience of scheduling heating
habits while also being able to monitor the temperature and their usage such that their home heating
experience can be further optimized. With optimized coverage of the VentNet system throughout the house,
VentNet is meant to give users the freedom of not having to worry about heating inconsistencies and the
ability of customizing their own heating preferences to elevate both comfort and savings.
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This proposal will contain the following sections:
Detailed summary of the core functionality and modules of the VentNet system
Market research on the addressed problem, the competitors, and the targeted market
Scope of current project plans with initial stretch goals planned
Risks, benefits, development schedule, and funding of the VentNet system
Company profile with personal excerpts from the founders
2 Product Summary 2.1 Product Design
As the main goal of VentNet is to provide a robust solution for accurate control over the heating in individual
rooms of a house, the end product will be a system comprised of four kinds of physical modules: air vents,
thermo-sensors, a master thermostat, and a router module. The main features of the system are summed up
below:
1. Individual Zone Temperature Control
The system begins with our custom vent modules that can open or close the furnace vent upon receiving an
electronic signal. By attaching a microcontroller to drive the signal and a wireless receiver to network these
vents, all the vents in a house can be grouped according to heating zones. With heating zone groups set-up,
the vents in a zone can be controlled in unison to raise or lower the temperature in a room according to data
from a wireless thermostat. This degree of control will allow for greater comfort and energy bill savings by
optimizing the heating experience.
2. Web/Smartphone App Interface
To achieve the full potential of the individual zone temperature control feature, the system will allow users to
setup advanced control schemes and a monitoring tool through either a web interface or smartphone app.
This interface will be akin to web interfaces for home routers and will be hosted by a module in our system
attached to the home router. By attaching the interface host to the home network, any computer or
smartphone connected to the router can be used to control the temperature for any heating zone in the house.
It will also provide access to advanced features such as heating scheduling, temperature logging, and energy
bill estimations.
3. Master Thermostat Module
Compared to competing systems, the VentNet system will be the first to feature a master thermostat module
capable of adjusting the temperature for each individual zone. This provides a robust solution in-case the
home network is not available or a smartphone/computer is not convenient. In addition to its role as a
backup, it will also be responsible for controlling all the devices tied to the original thermostat in the home
(i.e. the furnace and air conditioning). As some homes lack a dedicated power source for the thermostat, the
Master Thermostat Module will remain battery powered most of the time.
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4. Low-Power Wireless Communications System
Due to the spread nature of all the components in the system and design constraints, limiting most of them to
battery power the wireless communications will have to be robust and energy efficient. To this end we have
decided that a sub-gigahertz radio running a custom wireless protocol would be optimal. Although
developing a wireless protocol from scratch may be challenging, it is more cost effective compared to buying
the licenses and SDK for an existing sub-gigahertz protocol. A custom protocol will also allow us to better
optimize power usage for our specific use case and system.
2.2 System Overview
The VentNet system consists of four major components: the thermostat, router module, room sensors and
motorized vent covers.
FIGURE 2: SYSTEM DIAGRAM OF THE VENTNET SYSTEM
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In the VentNet system, the Temperature Sensor measures ambient temperature in a room and will signal the
Vent Covers to open or close when the room temperature moves away from the set temperature. If the room
temperature dictates that the vents are to be opened for heating, then the Temperature sensors will also signal
the Master Thermostat to turn on the furnace. As the Master Thermostat is connected to the furnace signaling
wires for the original thermostat, it is able to effectively issue the call for heat to the furnace.
On the advanced settings side of the system, the Master Thermostat is also capable of changing the
temperature settings stored on the Temperature Sensors as it is capable of acting as the thermostat for all
heating zones. This feature is shared with the Router Module, which connects to the local home network to
host a webapp for adjusting the temperature setting in each room in addition to offering other advanced
settings and monitoring features.
2.3 Market Research
We at Aeolus Systems intend to target users who would like to save energy and cost in their home heating
solutions as well as those interested in the flexibility of a programmable climate control system. In a world
where IoT devices of all functionalities are evolving, we believe there is a great market available for a
commerical IoT climate control system.
Throughout a 24-hour day, a residence containing a working couple could see emptiness for an average of 8
hours a day. Furthermore, with an average of 8 hours of sleep per day, there are potentially 16 hours in a day
that a lower temperature could be maintained in the house to allow for a lower heating bill. With our home
climate control system, users will be able to pre-program these schedules into our thermostats and have the
furnace operate at lower temperatures when necessary to avoid wasted energy. In fact, a user can save as
much as 10% a year in heating bills by turning their home temperatures down by ~1.5C for 8 hours a day
from their normal setting [5]. In addition, with our motorized vents, users may choose not to heat unused
rooms and further save on heating.
From Statistics Canada, 53% of Canadians with a thermostat currently do not have the option to automate
their heating routine [6]. Considering these users, we believe we can sell a product that can appeal to their
potential savings and provide a great home heating experience. Apart from these savings, the VentNet
system also extends a rich set of features to the consumer including separate room temperature control,
control of home heating through mobile and web applications, and motorized vents for controlling air flow to
the fit of the consumer.
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The VentNet has several competitors in Ecovent, Keen and Flair’s smart vent systems. Below is a table
comparing the features and typical costs of the smart vent systems:
TABLE 1: COMPARISON OF VENTNET AND COMPETITORS
Thermostat Control
Module
Motorized
Vents
Room
Sensors
Price for
Average
Home
Setup
$981.5*
$1300
$827
$1015
$329
Note: We treat average home setup as 5 sensors, 8 vents.
* Price of VentNet estimated based on development materials cost. Production version likely cheaper.
One major difference is that none of the competing solutions provide their own smart thermostat for
interfacing with the furnace. Ecovent’s system includes motorized vents, outlet powered sensors and a
control hub. Likewise, the same modules are included in Keen and Flair’s system, albeit with different
implementations. Their systems must be integrated with a smart thermostat (e.g. NEST Lab’s thermostat) to
communicate with the furnace and consists of many functionalities the VentNet includes by default, albeit at
high cost. The main differentiator between the VentNet and these competitors will be the providing of a fully
integrated ecosystem for a lower price point, a wireless protocol designed specifically for our system and
potential energy harvesting capabilities in our thermostat.
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2.4 Cost Considerations
To complete the proof-of-concept component of the capstone project, we have chosen several parts and tools
to create a market quality product while keeping our budget constraints in mind. To simulate a real system,
we decided to create two vents and two thermo-sensors in addition to our router module and thermostat. To
control our router module and thermostat, two Raspberry Pi boards will be needed. In choosing our radio
protocol, we found a specific board that would include a built-in radio module perfect for building our vents
and thermo-sensors. Another two radio modules would then be purchased for implementation with our
Raspberry Pi boards. Miscellaneous parts and cables covers any power cables, LEDS or inexpensive but
necessary components and we have set aside $50 for these occasions. Shipping and handling estimations
have also been included in our cost estimations and a 15% contingency fund has been set aside for any
unseen circumstances.
TABLE 2: PRICE ESTIMATION FOR PROTOTYPE PARTS
Component Price ($ CAD)
2 x Raspberry Pi 2 $ 120
6 x Radio Modules $ 200
2 x Vent Modules $ 65
1 x LCD Screen $ 40
Plastic Enclosure $ 50
Miscellaneous Parts and Cables $ 50
Contingency (15%) $ 80
Total: $ 605
3 Scope
We recognize that due to all the new opportunities this new method of home automation opens, this project
may succumb to feature creep as ideas increase and development feasibility decreases. Given our limited
development time, it is prudent to establish clear functionality targets for the project. With the 9 weeks after
this proposal’s submission, we will work towards bringing VentNet to a proof-of-concept prototype stage.
Namely, the prototype to be presented April 4th will at least demonstrate the following key features:
Battery powered, electronically controlled vents that can be controlled wirelessly
Wireless thermo-sensors able to measure and relay temperature data
Master Thermostat operates furnace control signal based on data from thermo-sensors
Web App contains functionality to set temperatures and display temperature logs
Separate control for multiple heating zones (vent control groups)
At this prototype stage, all modules will be using hobbyist grade microcontroller boards (i.e. Raspberry Pi,
Arduino) and general purpose enclosures; however, we are confident that even within the 9-week timeframe
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we can push beyond the mock-up stage and into a short second development cycle to add product refinement
and certain advanced features.
Although reaching the second iteration development stage by April is not guaranteed, we believe the features
planned for development can greatly enhance the proof-of-concept demonstration and give us a head start in
developing the production prototype. Thus, time and budget permitting, the stretch goals for the prototype
demonstration on April 10th will include these features:
Master Thermostat Energy Harvesting
In some homes the mounting point for the master thermostat on the wall does not have a dedicated line
for power. This presents a problem as the master thermostat is responsible for powering both the
hardware UI for the user to set temperatures in different heating zones and the attendant wireless
transmissions to relay the settings. Thankfully, energy can be harvested from the 24VAC signal line for
the furnace when the furnace is signaled to turn on. We only need to add necessary circuitry to convert
24VAC to the battery voltage.
Wireless Protocol Optimization
To conserve power in the modules of the VentNet system that are battery powered, a scheme can be
implemented for the radios on energy constrained modules to be switched on at set intervals whilst the
wall powered modules will be switched on all the time. This way, the radio on a battery powered module
need not idle, waiting to receive signals. While the basic concept is sound, this feature may require
extensive development time to ensure packets aren’t dropped.
Native Smartphone App
While the VentNet will definitely feature a web application for adjusting temperatures and accessing
advanced functions, the development of a native smartphone app to do the same is not planned for the
first iteration. If time permits, the 1st iteration prototype will feature a smartphone app for a more elegant
mobile user experience.
Custom Component PCBs
Many modules in the system will be prototyped on development boards like Raspberry Pi and Arduino,
but these are not cost-effective components to have in a final product. After final integration testing is
complete, a development cycle can be spent on designing custom circuit boards to directly mount our
microcontrollers, radios, and sensors.
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3.1 Cost Considerations
Risk is involved whether you are crossing the street or investing in a new market. The same can be said
about VentNet. Using the experience our members gained in the field, Aeolus hopes to minimize the risk
involved with this project.
As a group made up of Computer Engineering students, much of our experiences lies in software
development and our minimal experience with hardware could be a problem. However, we believe that there
are sufficient resources available to us online. We also have many experienced technicians and machinists in
our school network that we can consult.
Another potential risk is the arrival time of essential parts. Many of our parts will be shipped across the
border from China or the United States. We cannot guarantee that our parcels will not be lost in transit or be
stuck at the border. If parts do not arrive in time, we will not hit our timeline goals and fail to complete our
project in time. We do not want development to stall because an Arduino fails to ship to our location, so we
will seek reliable sellers and aim to buy essential equipment locally to reduce this risk.
As with any system with multiple wireless devices, problems can occur with interconnectivity. First, we
must find an appropriate wireless protocol for our application. If we are forced to use an unconventional
wireless protocol, it will be difficult to find support and documentation online to assist our team with
troubleshooting and testing. Even if we successfully implement the communication within our system, we
need to test real world applications. We need to consider obstructions, such as walls and radio interference in
the timing and accuracy of messages sent between our different modules.
A risk for consumers might also be the level of expertise necessary for the initial setup of our system. Do we
have the consumer install it themselves or have a technician install it for them? In either case, we need to
make the user manual simple enough that installation does not become a drawback.
Finally, a fundamental risk of our project is whether our product improves the heating situation in the
household or puts unnecessary strain on the furnace system. When a vent is closed, pressure builds up in the
ductwork, leaking out through holes in the ductwork and blowing back against the furnace fans.
3.2 Benefits
Furnace heated homes usually have one or two thermostats, which control the temperature for the whole
house. This method is an inefficient way of distributing heat to the house, especially if there are unused
rooms where there is less traffic.
However, people don’t want to tear out their ductwork to install a new and efficient ventilation system. With
our proposal, we provide an elegant solution for a smart home heating experience.
Through our web application or the main thermostat, you can schedule when to turn your heating system on
and set specific temperatures for different regions of your house. When you go to sleep or leave the house,
VentNet will take responsibility for turning off your furnace.
When you look at the current market for smart HVAC solutions, you find that our competitors often do not
deliver the whole package. Keen Home Vent System and Flair’s system cost $827 and $1015 respectively,
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but do not include a thermostat. Ecovent as well offers a control module, motorized vents, and room sensors
as a package for $1300 and also requires an external thermostat.
Our proposed solution would include all of the above but would cost only $981.50. This price tag is only for
the development version, so when we go to market, costs will assuredly go down as we mass produce our
own PCBs. Soon, a more affordable option for smart vents will appear on the market for consumers to enjoy
an improved home environment.
4 Project Planning 4.1 Schedule and Timeline
In terms of scheduling and time-line, we have created a total of 24 milestones to reflect the critical goals and
course requirements of the eight-month project. To organize these 24 milestones, we have separated our
work load in five main sections, these sections include:
1. Brainstorming and Project Proposals
2. Commencement and Project Functional Specification Phase
3. Integration and Project Design Specification Phase
4. System Testing and Demonstration Phase
5. Design Refinement Phase
FIGURE 3: SIMPLIFIED GANTT CHART
On the next page, a simple flow chart outlines the milestones, their section and the length and dates that will
be allocated towards the completion of the section.
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FIGURE 4: FLOWCHART FOR PROJECT STRUCTURE
Brainstorming and Project Proposal Phase
(Jan 4 - Jan 29)
• Finalize Project Idea
• Project Proposal Document
• First Draft of Proposal Document
Commencement and Project Functional Specification Phase
(Jan 30 - Mar 13)
• First Component Orders
• Electronics and Firmware for Five Components
• Basic WebApp Loaded on Router Module
• Functional Specification Document
• First Draft of Functional Specification
Integration and Project Design Specification Phase
(Feb 20 - Mar 26)
• Integration of Radio Module to System
• Enclosures for All Modules
• Advanced Functions and UI Design for WebApp
• Master Thermostat Controls for Multiple Zones
• Stretch Goals Development
System Testing and Demonstration Phase
(Mar 28 - Apr 10)
• Poster Presentation
Design Refinement Phase
(Apr 11 - Aug 4)
• Concept Finalization for Second Iteration of Design
• Second Requirements Document
• Customized PCBs for All Modules
• Final Presentation
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1. Brainstorming and Project Proposal Phase
The period geared towards brainstorming and analyzing the feasibility of various project ideas with respect
to the team’s time constraints and individual abilities. In addition, this would include the time set for
garnering interest among colleagues, gaining approval from Professor Rawicz for our project idea and the
entirety of the project proposal document.
2. Commencement and Project Functional Specification Phase
During this phase, first component parts will be ordered and basic firmware and functionalities will be
implemented. Additionally, for documentation, the functional specification document shall be researched,
drafted and completed. For development, we shall specifically be targeting the fully finished electronic
module of our various parts. In terms of the software, the firmware shall be created and ready to integrate
with the finished radio firmware and developed network system.
3. Integration and Project Design Specification Phase
At this point, the project modules will be completed and ready to be integrated. Integration will primarily
consist of the implementation of our radio software to all the modules. Further improvements will then be
made via development of advanced functions such as monitoring/logging/scheduling through the web app
and thermostat controls for multiple zones. Finally, the design specification will be completed for the
deadline and depending on the timely completion of the major tasks, stretch goal development will begin
during this phase.
4. System Testing and Demonstration Phase
Approximately six days will have been set aside to solely focus on testing. While this may seem short, the
team will be implementing a test-driven development approach and will be validating functionality at each
step of the implementation process. The system will be tested both internally and with external input for
critique on a wider spectrum. With this data, final revisions and bug fixes can be completed before the poster
presentation preparation. The poster presentation will have a week of preparation and with the poster
presentation, ENSC305 shall conclude.
5. Design Refinement Phase
The phase designated for improving and changing the design of the product to match economic and
functional constraints. For an estimate of one month, the team will brainstorm and discuss possible revisions
using our development observations. Afterwards, time will be used for implementation of our refinements to
the design. In addition, we would like to use this time to change our controllers and radio components to be
on a self-created PCB. Finally, any additional documentation required by the course shall be allotted time
and completed.
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4.2 Funding
Aeolus Systems was unable to acquire funding from sponsors at the time of the writing of this proposal.
Therefore, we will share any financial costs incurred in the first half of development, making sure to keep
track of our receipts and orders. We will then submit our proposal to the Engineering Students Society
Endowment Fund (ESSEF) and the Wighton Engineering Development Fund to hopefully recoup some of
our losses during the second half of development.
5 Company Profile Steven Zhou – Chief Executive Officer
Steven is a 5th year Computer Engineering student at Simon Fraser University with strong knowledge in
digital electronics and small team project management. Previously, as the leader of Team NoMacs Steven
successfully guided the group to a first place finish in a SFU app design competition where the winning entry
eventually became the basis for the official SFU app. In addition to project management skills, Steven also
brings work experience in software testing and scripting development earned from 8 months of co-op at
Broadcom as a Software Test Developer. As the CEO of Aeolus Systems, Steven will act as group
coordinator and representative. Group decision making will be democratic as befits small groups and
Steven’s background management style; however, he is ready to engage direct leadership when appropriate.
For this project, Steven will focus on the development of the radio module and custom wireless protocol to
be used in the VentNet system.
James Elton Voong – Chief Communications Officer
James is a 5th year Computer Engineering student with background in quality assurance and mobile device
testing. Having completed co-op terms as a testing student at BlackBerry, James has extensive experience in
software debugging, root cause analysis and bridging the gap between the developers and the end users. In
addition, James has relevant computer science courses in the areas of databases, algorithms and data
structures. As the CCO of the company, James will be responsible for ensuring the compliance with
requirements, communications within the team and the final oversee of the various documents and
paperwork created.
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Jeremy Leung – Chief Operating Officer
Jeremy is a 5th year Computer Engineering student who has experience in software test development and a
strong interest in software development. Having done 3 co-op terms at Schneider Electric, Jeremy has been
exposed to the development of a web application software project in an Agile environment from proof-of-
concept to a functional prototype. His role in this project was to develop automation scripts, using Python,
Selenium, and the Robot Framework, in order to ensure robustness of the application. Additionally, he has
experience with object-oriented programming and scripting languages (C, C++, Objective-C, Python). As the
Chief Operating Officer of the company, Jeremy will be in charge of managing the operations of the
company including: meeting minutes, logistics, scheduling, and ensuring that the development process is
both efficient and enjoyable.
Paul Khuu – Chief Technology Officer
Paul is a 5th year Computer Engineering student who is interested in hardware design. During his co-op
assisting a professor with his robotics research applying IoT technology to the elderly, Paul gained extensive
experience in robotics design, Python, and Raspberry Pi development. He has training in C, C++, VHDL,
scripting from the various courses he has taken. As Chief Technology Officer, he will be using the skills he
learned to guide the other members on both the software and hardware development. He will also be
applying his skills on the intercommunication between devices, such as the sensors, Arduino and the
Raspberry Pi.
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6 Conclusion
This proposal has detailed out the general overview and scope of the VentNet to provide an understanding on
what issues we intend to address and our initial plan on how we will succeed in doing so. We at Aeolus
Systems intend to develop a project that will not only address an issue but to be able to impact the lives of
individuals in a meaningful way, and we believe that VentNet is the answer.
VentNet is an intelligent and robust system consisting of motorized vents, smart thermostats, a router
module, and a web/smartphone application that upgrades current heating setups. The motorized vents
provide variable heating that enables users to control the heating in individual zones. The smart thermostats
monitor the ambient temperature of each individual zone and feeds the information to the router module for
further commands. The web/smartphone application provides users with a convenient way to monitor the
heating in individual zones and control the modules without having to manipulate the physical analog
thermostat module. As a result, the combination of these modules into a system provides users with control
over their previously-inflexible heating system to address heating inconsistencies, amplify home comfort,
and permit energy-cost savings by minimizing previously-wasted heat.
With thorough investigations on our target market and the viability of VentNet, Aeolus is committed in
delivering a robust solution so that people who utilize this product will be able to feel at ease knowing that
they can cut down on unnecessary costs while having a more comfortable environment in their homes. In the
future, Aeolus aspires to build upon the foundation of VentNet to create a stronger system and introduce
advanced features to push home automation to its limit and reshape the perception of inflexible heating
systems.
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References
[1] A. Britnell, "A guide to household heating – Canadian home workshop," in Canadian Home Workshop,
2017. [Online]. Available: http://canadianhomeworkshop.com/690/home-renovations/a-guide-to-
household-heating. Accessed: Jan. 23, 2017.
[2] Government of Canada, "Households and the environment: Energy use: Analysis," in Statistics Canada,
2015. [Online]. Available: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-526-s/2013002/part-partie1-eng.htm.
Accessed: Jan. 23, 2017.
[3] American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, "Types of heating systems," in Smarter House,
2015. [Online]. Available: http://smarterhouse.org/heating-systems/types-heating-systems. Accessed:
Jan. 23, 2017.
[4] Ideal Services Heating & Cooling, "Potential issues with forced air heating," in Ideal Services Heating &
Cooling, 2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.idealservicesonline.com/blog/potential-issues-with-
forced-air-heating/. Accessed: Jan. 23, 2017.
[5] U.S. Department of Energy, "Thermostats," in Energy.gov, 2015. [Online]. Available:
https://energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats. Accessed: Jan. 23, 2017.
[6] Government of Canada, "CANSIM - 153-0060 - households and the environment survey, use of
thermostats, Canada, provinces and census metropolitan areas (CMA)," in Statistics Canada, 2016.
[Online]. Available: http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&id=1530060&p2=33. Accessed:
Jan. 23, 2017.
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Appendix