The Chameleon Team

Abstract

Proposal for the 2008 project: "The Chameleon Team." The University of Missouri?Columbia (MU) and Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) have teamed to develop an exciting energy conservation product. The Chameleon project will produce an artificially intelligent residential energy management system designed to blend into its environment. Upon successful completion of this project, the Chameleon home automation system will enable the average homeowner to conserve energy and save money by simply having the system installed in their home and not changing any of their daily activities. This total budget of the design, development, and implementation of Chameleon�s prototypes is well over the budget for this funding opportunity, this proposal will focus on the educational partnerships required to develop the user interface for the system. This multi?university undergraduate student project incorporates engineering, architectural studies, and interior design students to develop a seamlessly integrated and highly functioning home automation system that requires no technical skills to operate. The underlying technology that enables the project is the IT capabilities of both universities which will enable weekly video?conference design meetings as well as internet accessible energy monitoring data available in real �time. In addition, students on both campuses utilize computer programs specific to their disciplines and learn program associated with other disciplines due to the multidisciplinary efforts required. For example, S&T students use the computer program, Maui Solar, to estimate the size and placement of solar panels for home energy production. MU students often suggest solar energy production on their concept designs but do not know the details of how and where to place the modules. Working together with the computer program, students from both campuses are learning the importance of each disciplines� core software programs. The Chameleon team�s proposal for the Interdisciplinary Innovation Fund meets the requirement from the MU Information Technology Committee. The student led team is working to make the UM system a leader in energy conservation through the use of cutting edge technology and multidisciplinary design efforts that make the technology available to the average homeowner.