Engineering Survey For Product Creation

Go Bears!

I took the survey for you, good luck on the project.

Thank you!

I'm not sure where this is going, but I'll humor you, even though these questions are perplexing:

"Have you experienced rain coming into your home through open windows?"

No.

"How do you currently solve the problem of rain getting through your windows?"

I close the window.

Are you developing a rain sensing window closer?

Yes, I am

OK, that changes a lot.

I assume it will be connected to Blue tooth or the internet as well?

What about such features as closing when wind speed goes above a certain threshold?

Maybe tied to a small weather station on-site?

Good luck.

As of now, I actually plan on using an ultrasonic range finder to (hopefully) sense the rain, which will cause a motor to run, expanding an awning to open and block the rain from getting in.

The thing is, we have to use automated sensors (such as VEX) to build these products in class, so ideas can be only so limited.

But, thank you for giving ideas!

Just as a matter of curiosity, are (you) also going to have the windows re-open when rains stops?... (It might be a valuable option to include, under certain conditions...)

Yes, I was planning on doing that.

So no window opening and closing just an awning extending.....well here in Florida the awnings are to shade the windows and are left in that position except during storms, when they are bolted closed, covering the windows....

These are very common...called clamshells...

They do make these retractable awnings for patio spaces, but most people will just screen in a porch with a roof because of the bugs...

You really know how to rain on the kid's parade.

Hey a phone app remote control to lower the awning and lock them down would be something worth considering...I have the curtain type now....manual....but easy...a lot of people have the electric drop down shutters...just push a button

https://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=greenhouse+ventilation+automation&o=APN11908&chn=1000020&guid=3BFB4B35-C6D4-11E7-B4A7-E0430DE286E8&doi=2017-11-12&ver=22.11.0.41&prt=NSBU&geo=GB&locale=en_GB&trackId=direct

If this was Washington State, in or near Seattle, or a wetter area like San Francisco, I could see it. Also in Florida. Not in West Texas.

We use the windows to invite burglars in for target practice.

"How much would be a reasonable price to buy the solution"

Is that per window, or, for all windows?

We do have automatic rain closers on the windows above the atrium at work: so you might struggle with patents.

$.99

My approach would be to create a roller type device similar in form to a window shade that would be activated by a "rain sensor" and deactivated when the rain stopped. It would be a motorized shade, compact enough to mount over the window It would have to be a self contained unit so as not to require any window modification. It would operate whether the window was open or closed, so a bypass switch would be required. That's about all I can come up with. The rest is up to you. Good luck.

We already have motorized shades and screens, even with remote control....

https://www.solarususa.com/products

Yes, but not operated by a rain sensor or any other sensor. It is simply a matter of marrying existing with new tech.

Nah - here's the berries!

Combine the idea for rain closures with bacterial spore muscles, so that when dry, they contract and open up the window (closures), and when wet, the muscles expand, thereby pulling the window (closures) shut.

No electronics, no electric motors, no fire hazard from motor overheating, no remote needed. Just make sure the bacterial spores remain in place and happy.

The only time I have a rain problem is when I'm ventilating the house and the fan sucks it in, or the wind is strong and blows it in. It would be kinda nice to have a device to turn off the fan when it rains while you're not home. If you want to think real big, how about a whole ventilation system that allows you to pick and chose which side of the house the suction/discharge is on? You could even reverse the fan's direction and blow the rain back out. It might take a while to get your investment back. But, if it's a good idea/design, it could eventually become widely accepted and mass-produced cheaply, becoming even more popular. With a good ventilation system, the rain solution would be automatically included.

Take into consideration that in the climate i live in ( north west Arizona ) the rain comes during a monsoon. If you are unfamiliar with them they tend to carry high winds sometimes also micro-bursts which can produce tornado speed winds. This in mind the awnings would have to be bullet proof

True that. Nothing gentle about rain storms here in Lubbock, TX either, at least most of the time, but we also get those "general rains" where the storm just sits around drizzling rain for a week. Amazing to say the least, in a semi-arid location.