Advanced Occupancy System

Mitch Williams
Adam Winter
Shane Woolwine

Introduction

It is our goal to develop a new sensory system that

will allow a system operator to determine the
availability of an area of interest. Sensor results are
conveyed to a remotely located system display.
This new system is based on a collection of existing
technology that will be used to collect real time data
within a perimeter of operation.
Three situations concerning area of interest
availability have been identified.

An individual is located in an AOI.

Objects or possessions have been left in an AOI.
The AOI is unoccupied.

Motivation
Our motivation for this product is to
increase consumer efficiency by
developing a product that improves time
management through the use of a more
advanced organizational system.
Currently methods for determining and
monitoring the availability of an area of
interest require large amounts of wasted
time and effort.

Possible Applications
Library Tables & Study Areas
Classrooms & Conference Rooms
Energy Conservation

Heating and air systems configured to adapt

to information collected by the occupancy
system.

Sociology

What areas do individuals tend to occupy?

Current Competition

People Counters

Technology that uses motion detectors to

count the number of people in an area of
interest to determine occupancy levels

Surveillance & Security Companies

Energy Efficiency Companies

Systems that perform tasks such as turning

off lights or appliances when they are not in
use

Customer Needs

Display

Privacy

The system does not invade consumer privacy, i.e.

no cameras

Appearance

The ability to view information from a remote

location

Does not interfere with normal activity

Reliability

The system requires minimal user intervention

Customer Needs - 2

Versatility

System is extensible and expandable

Can be implemented in a variety of locations

Accuracy

Can adjust for different occupancy scenarios

Cost

The system is priced affordably

Key Sub Problems

Sense Presence in Area of Interest

What sensor(s) can give us the best

information regarding occupancy while still
maintaining power and privacy restrictions?

Process Sensor Data

What is the best method to accurately

process sensor data and efficiently relay
necessary occupant information?

Interesting Sub-Solutions

Sense Presence

Motion Sensor

Accuracy concern

Thermal Sensor

Unable to adjust to different occupancy scenarios

Camera

Privacy Invasion

Combination Sonar & Thermal (selected)

Satisfies level of accuracy, desired information,

and most customer needs

Interesting Sub-Solutions - 2

Process Sensor Data

FPGA
Not in our skill set

PC
Not Versatile

Sensor Node (selected)

Versatility & Ease of use

Final Concept

A combination sensor scheme

Thermal & Sonar
Possibly aggregated in one box or a multipart design

Sensor Node
A microcontroller with radio
Used to analyze sensor data and transmit
relative information

Diagram - Aggregate Model

Diagram - Multi-part Model

Proto-type
Detect people, object, both, or neither in a
given area represented by a table
Break occupancy area (table) into a
quadrant to show region occupancy
Transmit the data wirelessly to a gateway
mote connected to a PC and display
information on PC