Project details
Discover the inspiration, engineering, and innovative features behind our Dryer Sensor Project. We're proud to share the journey of solving a common campus problem with smart technology.
Solving laundry room frustrations
Communal laundry rooms are a fundamental part of on-campus housing, yet they often lead to frustration. Students frequently encounter issues like wet clothes being removed from machines, laundry sitting for hours, or the disappointment of hauling clothes only to find no available machines. These pervasive problems on college campuses sparked the inspiration for our team's innovative design.
Our engineering solution
The Dryer Sensor Project addresses the gap in laundry room efficiency through the design and prototyping of a Laundry Machine Availability Monitor. Our device, based on an Arduino Nano, accurately detects the operational state of a dryer using a thermistor temperature sensor. According to Arduino's official documentation, the Arduino Nano reads analog voltages through its analog input pins, making it ideal for sensor applications. Once the wash cycle is complete, the device promptly notifies the user via email. This innovative solution is discreetly placed at the dryer's exhaust vent for optimal performance. Appliance Express notes that a dryer's exhaust temperature should not exceed 200°F during normal operation, which is the range our sensor monitors.
Key features and pride points
We are particularly proud of the real-time notification system that sends an email directly to the user when their laundry cycle is complete, eliminating guesswork and freeing up valuable time. The use of an Arduino Nano makes our device compact, energy-efficient, and easy to deploy in various dryer models. According to Arduino's official documentation, the Nano is one of the smallest and most power-efficient boards in the Arduino lineup. Our design offers a practical and effective solution to a common student dilemma, significantly improving the communal laundry experience.
References
Appliance Express. (2024). How hot does a dryer get? Retrieved from https://applianceexpresstx.com/dryer-repair/how-hot-does-a-dryer-get
Arduino. (2024). Arduino Nano documentation. Retrieved from https://docs.arduino.cc/hardware/nano/