Design of a personalised home security solution

Design of a personalised home security solution

Vogel, A.

Van der Horst, R. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Mechatronic design, Design engineering

2017-03-29

This master thesis provides details on the development of a personalised home security solution for the company HomeWizard. The current alarm system market focuses on products that recognise a burglary and then signal the user. The used technology has been around for quite some time and the modular approach of most products allow the user to customise the alarm system to his own wishes. Research firms believe that the market of home alarms will thrive when it merges into the home automation market. This development should be obvious, since the modular approach is a characteristic of both markets. Still most vendors of alarm systems in the lower end of the market fail to offer devices that can integrate with home automation products. During the analysis three opportunities were observed in the market for affordable home alarm systems. First of all it appeared that current solutions fail short in stimulating prevention. Although it is known that actively closing all doors and windows when leaving the house, greatly reduces the chance of a burglary, most systems do not support their users in this behaviour. Also other actions that can be taken to improve prevention are neglected by alarm systems. The second opportunity is that current systems create a negative user experience, as the daily interaction is found annoying, cumbersome, and easily overlooked. Finally alarm systems fail to support the user during and after an incident. Clear guidance is not available, and asking people’s help is not easy in a stressful situation like a burglary. The final concept, HomeWizard Protect, is a security product with two door sensors, a wireless RGB bulb, a central gateway and a smartphone app, that focuses on two elements. The first element, being prevention, is realised by the system warning the user when he forgets to close doors and windows when leaving. It also tells the user about burglaries in the neighbourhood. And when the inhabitants of the house are absent, it automatically turns on the light when it darkens, thus simulating that someone is at home. The second focus is on comfort and ease of use. The system automatically changes its alarm states, based on the user’s location, it turns on lights when the user comes home in the dark, and it tells the user who is entering his house when he is not present. The final design consist of four components, two of which have been designed from scratch: the user interface and the door sensor. The UI/UX application for smartphone is designed not only to inform it’s user, but also to give him easy control of his security system, both remote and at home. Moreover this UI can be used as foundation for expanding the system in the area of home automation. Several prototypes of the smartphone application have been tested with the target group, validating it’s ease of use and clear communication. The hardware component, being the door sensor, is designed to have a new look and feel compared to the sensors from the competition. The sensor is water resistant and fits the aesthetics of the current HomeWizard portfolio. Moreover it can be produced within the financial requirements of €6.50 a piece. Two prototypes have been created to validate both wireless capabilities and mechanical properties.

HomeWizard
Security system
Alarm system
Safety & Security

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8e5023f3-b282-4a73-9c14-79451f146b48

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2017 A. Vogel