Final year project
Energy consumption optimisation [Read more]
Smart plugs
Connected, intelligent smart plugs enable users to switch off non-critical devices automatically when fossil fuels account for a significant percentage of the energy mix. The design also allows for integrated cable management, has a high quality braided cable and a lightweight, minimal aesthetic.
Home Hub
The hub of the system uses scent and shimmering light reflected through a reservoir of water containing an atomizer to attract the user’s attention when they are consuming carbon-intensive energy. The gesture based interfaced enabled by a hidden radar sensor allows the user to switch off devices connected to the smart plugs at times of peak demand.
Electronic prototype
A working electronic prototype was developed including miniature radar (centre image), a precision 30MHz 24-bit ADC and current transformer for data acquisition, and a prototype convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract energy consumption data for individual devices in the home.
Research insight
Immersive user research led to an insight that tangled, messy cables are contributing factor to devices being left on standby. As users want the cables out of sight, they hide the plugs away and therefore leave them perpetually switched on.
Design solution
The solution was to integrate cable management into the product, relieving users of the mess of cables that existed previously. A number of 3D printed prototypes were produced in order to develop and refine the cable management functionality.
Modular electric bike
Live project brief from Seymourpowell to enhance a personal device using modularity. Orpheus is a modular ebike platform which can be configured for various cycling activities, ranging from a high-performance racer to a rugged electric mountain bike.
The entire project was conceptualised, designed, 3D modelled and rendered in only 7 days.
McLaren Applied Technolgies
Digital rendering and page layout for a brochure detailing McLaren Applied Technologies advanced electric drive and control products. Over 100 copies of the brochure were professionally printed for an electric vehicle systems exhibition.
Isaac Broad
My final year project looks at enabling understanding of how energy is generated, and that we can make the conscious choice to use clean energy by changing our behaviour. If energy use is minimised at peak times, collective social action could significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels for energy generation in the UK. With detailed consumption insight for the whole house provided by a machine learning enabled sensor; a clear real-time indication of the energy mix from the hub; and the ability to remotely deactivate devices connected to the smart plugs; the user is equipped to take action to optimise their energy footprint towards clean energy
I am a driven designer with strengths in visualisation, ideation and engineering. My placement with McLaren Applied Technologies gave me invaluable insight into professional design practice, high-performance engineering, and experience of bringing a blue-sky concept into near market reality.
Final year project
Energy consumption optimisation
Awards
'20 Diploma of Professional Studies
BAE Systems Engineering Competition: Winning Team
Placements
April 2019 - September 2019
Industrial Designer, McLaren Applied Technologies
August 2018 - February 2019
Student Design Engineer, AVON Underwater Systems