Section 1: Executive Summary 4
Section 2: Project Description 6
2.1 Project Motivation and Goals 6
2.2 Objectives 7
2.3 Project Requirements and Specifications 7
2.4 Division of Labor 8
Section 3: Research 11
3.1 Research Methods 11
3.2 Main Control Unit (MCU) 12
3.2.1 System Control Module 12
3.2.1.1 Safety Controls 13
3.2.1.2 Real Time Clock (RTC) 15
3.2.1.3 Heat Pump Control 16
3.2.1.4 Fan Control 18
3.2.1.5 Vent Control 19
3.2.2 System UI & Intelligence Module 22
3.2.2.1 Operating System 23
3.2.2.2 HTTP Server 24
3.2.2.3 Common Gateway Interface (CGI) 25
3.2.2.4 Database (DB) 26
3.2.2.5 Beyond Hardware: The Cloud & The Google App Engine Platform 28
3.2.2.6 Python Vs. Java Vs. C 29
Table 3.2.2.6-1 Comparing Languages 31
3.2.2.7 MVC Framework: How it all comes together 31
3.2.2.7.1 Comparison of MVC Frameworks 32
3.2.3 Comparison of System Modules 34
3.2.3.1 Comparison of System Control Modules 34
3.2.3.2 Comparison of System UI & Intelligence Solutions 36
3.2.4 System Control and System UI & Intelligence Interface 38
3.2.5 Interfacing the MCU with the RSM(s) 41
Table 3.2.5-1 General characteristics of TI CC2520 Zigbee® Transceiver [67]. 42
Table 3.2.5-2 General Characteristics of TI CC2500 Transceiver [67]. 43
Table 3.2.5-3 General Characteristics of TI CC1101 Transceiver [67]. 43
3.2.6 Interfacing with the outside world (LAN + Internet) 44
3.3 Power 46
3.3.1 System Control 46
3.3.2 Remote Sensing Module 46
3.4 Thermostat (Remote Sensor Module - RSM) 49
3.4.1 Functions 50
3.4.1.1 Temperature measurement 50
3.4.1.2 CO2 Monitoring 52
3.4.1.3 VOC Monitoring 54
3.4.1.4 Humidity Monitoring 55
3.4.1.5 Zone Control 58
3.4.2 Hardware 59
3.4.2.1 Microcontroller Hardware 59
3.4.2.2 Input/ Output Hardware 60
Section 4: Design Specifications 62
4.1 System UI & Intelligence 62
4.1.1 Software 62
4.1.1.1 Platform 62
4.1.1.2 Programming Language 63
4.1.1.3 MVC Framework 64
4.1.1.4 Database Structure 64
4.1.2 Web Application Layout 68
4.1.3 Web Application Variable Definitions 77
4.2 Main Control Unit/ System Control 82
4.2.1 Hardware 82
4.2.1.1 System Control Module Microcontroller & Communications 82
4.2.1.2 Damper Control 84
4.2.1.3 Fan Control 86
4.2.1.4 Compressor Control 86
4.2.1.5 Power 87
4.2.2 Software 88
4.2.2.1 Damper Control 88
4.2.2.2 Heat Pump Control 89
4.2.2.3 Fan Control 91
4.2.2.4 Safety Sensors 92
4.2.3 RSM Interface 92
4.2.4 Web Application Interface 93
4.3.1 Hardware 93
4.3.1.1 Input/ Output 93
4.3.1.2 Physical Dimensions 95
4.3.1.3 Power Supply 97
4.3.1.4 Sensor Schematic 97
4.3.1.5 Micro Controller Schematic 98
4.3.1.6 Wireless Hardware 99
4.3.2 Software 101
4.3.2.1 Sensor Subroutine 102
4.3.2.2 Wireless TX Subroutine 104
4.3.2.3 Wireless RX Subroutine 107
4.3.2.4 Input Subroutine 109
4.3.2.5 Display Subroutine 110
Section 5: Prototyping 115
5.1 Thermostat Prototyping 115
5.2 System UI & Intelligence Prototyping 116
5.3 System Control Prototyping 117
Section 6: Testing 119
6.1 Testing Criteria 119
6.2 Remote Sensor Module Testing 120
6.2.1 Human-Machine Interface Testing 120
6.2.2 Sensor Testing 121
6.2.3 Wireless Connectivity 122
6.3 System UI & Intelligence Module Testing 123
6.3.1 Web Application Access 123
6.3.2 Page Links and Settings 124
6.3.3 Temperature and Humidity Readout 126
6.3.4 Simultaneous Load 127
6.3.5 Control Mechanisms 128
6.3.6 Data Logging 130
6.4 System Control Module 131
6.4.1 Wireless Connectivity 131
6.4.2 Test Damper Control 132
Section 7: Administrative Content 138
7.1 Milestone Discussion 138
7.2 Finance Discussion 139
Table 7.2-1 MCU Parts 139
Table 7.2-2 RSM Parts 140
Section 8: Appendices 141
Appendix A: Copyright Permissions 141
Pending 144
Appendix B: Datasheets 146
Appendix C: Extraneous Figures 147
Appendix D: Acronyms 147
Appendix E: Bibliography 149