UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

EE498: FINAL YEAR PROJECT I (FINAL REPORT)

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR

OPENING AND CLOSING CURTAINS

A Project Report in Partial Fulfilment for the Award of Bachelor of Science in

Electrical Engineering

Name of Candidate: Mpete, Gervas Gracian

Registration Number: 2018-04-01715

Supervisor: Dr. Nelson Lujara

Supervisor’s Signature: ……………..............

Submission Date: 05th May 2022

 ABSTRACT
This project will deal with the design and implementation of a circuit that will open and close
curtains automatically. It will open curtains in the morning and close them at evening after sunset,
with this circuit we don’t need to move from one place to another to open and close the curtains.
This project will also have a manual switch operation in which one can close the curtains during
the day as they automatically stay open and that will be done with a press of the switch. An
automatic system will detect the presence or absence of light from the environment command the
servomotor will rotate in either clockwise or anticlockwise direction to either open or close the
curtains depending on the environment light level and the motor will run for the duration required
to open or close the curtain fully then stop. This can be implemented on already existing curtain
sliding mechanism.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1

1.3 Problem statement ............................................................................................................ 2

1.4 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 2

1.4.1 Main objectives ................................................................................................................ 2

1.4.2 Specific objectives ........................................................................................................... 2

1.5 Significance of the project................................................................................................ 3

1.6 Project organization.......................................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER TWO: DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM ...................................................... 4

2.1 The proposed system ........................................................................................................ 4

2.1.1 Block diagram of the proposed system ............................................................................ 4

2.1.2 Working of the proposed system ..................................................................................... 4

2.2 Flow chart of the proposed system ................................................................................... 5

2.3 Circuit Diagram Of The Proposed System ....................................................................... 6

CHAPTER THREE: SIMULATION OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM……………………….....7

3.1 DESIGN SIMULATION ................................................................................................. 7

3.2 SIMULATION RESULTS ............................................................................................... 7

3.2.1 High light intensity conditions ......................................................................................... 7

3.2.2 Low light intensity conditions ......................................................................................... 8

3.2.3 Manual switch operation .................................................................................................. 8

WORK DONE SO FAR AND WORK TO BE DONE…………………………………………...9

Work done so Far and work to be done………………………………………………………9
Project Time Schedule……………………………………………………………………....10

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 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: A block Diagram showing the proposed system
Figure 2: The flowchart diagram for the proposed system
Figure 3: Circuit diagram of the proposed system
Figure 4: High light intensity results
Figure 5: Low light intensity results

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
Windows are always there in buildings as they help natural light enter the building and help to
have visual and fresh air from the outside environment. The presence of windows brings in the
need of having curtains as not every time the window needs to be clear and that’s where the need
of curtains comes through as there are night times, raining hours and sometimes one might need
privacy. Many of the things are being automated these days because people don’t need to worry
about the little things in life such as closing and opening curtains at times when they need to either
be closed or opened and that is where an automatic system to open and close curtains comes into
application.

1.2 Introduction
In Present days most of the things are made to operate automatically so that less human effort is
used and we try to maximize our tasks and perform them within a short period of time. It feels
good in daily life one wakes up and curtains open automatically letting sunshine come through on
to everything in the room. More and more devices nowadays are becoming automatic so perhaps
this project will come out with a device that will definitely have its place in future market. The use
of different electronics helps mankind to accomplish those tasks in a fast and precisely manner
also the use of electronic devices provides comfort and flexibility to our lifestyle. Curtains play a
vital role in decor and safety of homes, offices, hospitals, hotels and concert halls. In normal cases
curtains are opened and closed by hands and hence one has to get up and move to the window and
either close or open the curtains at every time needed to do so, this effort and time consumed can
be minimized by the use of an electronic circuit that will perform that task. The use Automatic
opening and closing curtains is necessary due to advancement in technology and changes in
lifestyle.

The system to be designed will be less costly, reliable and very flexible as it can be installed to
non-electric curtains hence the system could be used to existing curtains. The project circuit will
be able to automatically open curtains in the morning and close them in the evening automatically.

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1.3 Problem statement
The following are the problems that have led to the idea of conducting this project of automatic
curtains opening and closing system.

i. Opening and Closing of curtains in large buildings with many windows seems to be a
tedious task and time consuming activity.
ii. The problem of forgetting to close windows at night might reduce safety and increase the
risk of robbery.
iii. The existing system involves motorized curtains that requires the use of switch control every
time one needs to open and close curtains.

1.4 Objectives

1.4.1 Main objectives

The main objective if this project is to Design and implement an automatic system that will open
curtains in the morning and close them in the evening after sunset. The system will also comprise
of a manual switch system to enable one to close curtains during the day as they will automatically
be kept open.

1.4.2 Specific objectives

The specific objectives of this project are as follows;

i. To design a light detection system that will help operation as they have resistors that varies
resistance depending on light incident on it and these can be used in control of the circuit.
ii. To design a motor drive system in which a servomotor will be used and it will be moving
in both clockwise and anticlockwise direction to cause linear motion that will be linked to
the curtains to cause movement for the opening and closing mechanism.
iii. To Build a simple model that will enable curtains to be closed and opened automatically at
the required time depending on the amount of light from the surrounding environment.

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1.5 Significance of the project
The following are the significance of this Project;

i. Saves time and energy that could be spent in opening and closing curtains manually hence
other necessary activities could be conducted during that time.
ii. Avoids the problem of forgetting to opening and closing the curtains as the system performs
the task without depending on the input command from the user.
iii. Increases Safety and security for a particular building as privacy is priority during night
hours with this system the curtains will be closed during night time with the presence or
absence of people in the house.
iv. Healthier natural lighting can always be achieved at times of the day; this can also save
energy used in lighting as the curtains automatically opens one is going to turn off the lights
instantly.
v. Involves the use of technology and hence making the building become smart.

1.6 Project organization

Chapter One: This chapter covers on introduction of the proposed project which includes
background of the project, introduction, definition of the problem, the main objectives, specific
objectives of the project and significance of the project.

Chapter Two: The second chapter consists of the Design of the proposed system which has the
block diagram of the proposed system, working of the proposed system and flowchart of the
proposed system design

Chapter Three: The third chapter of this report shows the simulation of the designed system
which has been done by proteus software.

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 CHAPTER TWO

DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM

1.7 The proposed system

The proposed system is expected to be full automatic and it will also have a switch system to be
used in case one probably wants to close the curtains during the day when the curtains have been
automatically opened. The System is presented on the block diagram below.

1.7.1 Block diagram of the proposed system

The Figure1 below shows the block diagram of the proposed system for the automatic opening
and closing of curtains.

Figure 1: A block Diagram showing the proposed system

1.7.2 Working of the proposed system
The system is designed to operate based on light around the surrounding environment whereby its
sequence is as follows.

Power is supplied to the circuit and the signal from the light sensing system are sent to the Arduino
Uno microcontroller which drives the servomotor to the required point and the direction of rotation
can be either clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the required output that will be either to
close or open.

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In the morning when light intensity falling on the photocell increase the signals are sent to the
Arduino Uno for processing and will drive the servomotor to a direction in which it will give an
output that is opening the curtain.

In the evening when there is less light falling on the photocell that is in the light sensing system
the signals are sent to Arduino Uno for processing and will allow the motor to rotate in a given
direction that will give an output that is closing the curtain.

The system will also have a manual switch operation which bypass the automated operation and
this is most likely to be during the day when the curtain is open the switch button can be used to
close. The switch system is linked to Arduino which prompt the servomotor to give a rotation that
will close the curtain.

1.8 Flow chart of the proposed system

The Flowchart of the proposed system which shows the sequence of events that which shows the
inputs, output, sequence of operations and decisions as seen on Figure 2.

Figure 2: The flowchart diagram for the proposed system

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1.9 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM
The circuit configuration of the proposed system is shown below on figure 3 and has been done
by Proteus software

Figure 3: Circuit diagram of the proposed system

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 CHAPTER THREE

SIMULATION OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM

1.10 DESIGN SIMULATION

The simulation of the proposed system has been done by Proteus software and the circuit
configuration has been shown on chapter two in Figure 3.

1.11 SIMULATION RESULTS

This project simulation which has brought different results based on its operation. The system is
capable of detecting light intensity from the surrounding environment which is done by the Light
Dependent Resistor (LDR) sensor which is analog sensor and depending on the intensity of light
different output can be achieved which are opening and closing curtains. The curtain control can
also be achieved by a control switch which can be used in case the user needs to open curtains
when they have been automatically closed or close curtains when they have been automatically
opened.

1.11.1 High light intensity conditions

When the system detects much light intensity which falls on the LDR its resistance starts
decreasing the signal is sent to the microcontroller for processing and the output is running the
motor to open the curtain and that is expected to be in the morning and the results are as seen on
figure 4.

Figure 4: High light intensity results

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1.11.2 Low light intensity conditions
When the system detects low light intensity falling on the LDR its resistance starts to increase and
the signal is sent to the Arduino microcontroller for the processing and the output is running the
motor to close the curtain and that is expected to be during the evening.

Figure 5: Low light intensity results

1.11.3 Manual switch operation

In some cases, the user might not be interested on the curtain state and to have control of the system
a manual switch can be used to either open or close. During the day the curtains are expected to
be open and during the night the curtains are expected to be closed, if one wants to close the curtain
during the daytime with the use of the switch the curtain can be closed also if one wants to open
the curtain during the night with the use of the switch the curtain can be opened.

Figure 1: Manual switching operation

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 WORK DONE SO FAR AND WORK TO BE DONE

Work done so far

The following tasks have already been done so far with the project on design and implementation
of an automatic system for opening and closing Curtains.

i. Weekly consultation with the project supervisor.

ii. Literature review of the previous work, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses in their
projects.
iii. Gaining more familiar to C programming language that will be used to write codes
necessary to command the Arduino Uno to implement the project.
iv. Design of the proposed circuit.
v. Simulation of the designed circuit.
vi. Progress report writing.

Work to be done
The following are tasks that will be done to accomplish the objectives of this project.

i. Final Report writing.

ii. Implementation of the designed system.

Project time schedule

The schedule of activities that have been done and that are to be done is as shown on Table 1.

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 Table 1: Project duration schedule

S/N Activities WEEK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

1 Literature review

2 Consultation ( with
supervisor)
3 Report writing
4 Progress report
submission
5 Third oral
presentation
6 Submission of report

7 Fourth oral
presentation

Work done so far

Work to be done

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