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1 8888 University Drive Burnaby B.C. V5A 1S6 (778) January 19, 2009 Patrick Leung School of Engineering Science Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6 Re: ENSC 440, General Gadgets Project Proposal: Kitchen Alert Dear Mr. Leung: The attached document, General Gadgets Project Proposal: Kitchen Alert, provides an outline for our potential ENSC 440 project. Our objective is to create a product which improves kitchen stove safety, as well as to provide convenient cooking features to the user. The proposal presents an overview of our Kitchen Alert system. It outlines the design features, sources of information, budget and funding, team organization, and a projected timeline for completing the prototype. Additionally, it discusses the competitive advantage of the product on the market over current solutions to kitchen safety. General Gadgets Canada is founded by fifth year Engineering Science students: Rasam Hafezi, Alex Kung, Edward Lee, and Eric Matthews. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding our project proposal, please feel free to contact me by phone at (778) or by at rhafezi@sfu.ca Sincerely, Rasam Hafezi Chief Executive Officer General Gadgets Canada Enclosure: General Gadgets Project Proposal: Kitchen Alert

2 Project Proposal Kitchen Alert Prepared for: Patrick Leung (ENSC 440) Steve Whitmore (ENSC 305) Simon Fraser University School of Engineering Science Simon Fraser University School of Engineering Science Prepared by: Eric Matthews VP Software Alex Kung VP Hardware Edward Lee VP Quality Assurance Rasam Hafezi Chief Executive Officer Date: January 19, 2009 Revision: 1.0

3 Executive Summary When cooking, how often do you stand in front of your stove the entire time it takes to prepare your meal? Be it attending to guests, answering a phone call, looking after children and pets, or other distractions, things come up that take you away from the stove. And when you are not there, is there anything that prevents your food from burning, boiling over, or, even worse, starting a fire? General Gadgets answer is there could be, and there should be. The solution to this problem is our Kitchen Alert system. Our product will detect and monitor the stovetop situation and take action to alert the user when there are potential problems on the stove. By monitoring the stovetop condition based on temperature, motion, humidity, and other inputs from the kitchen s environment, Kitchen Alert will help prevent kitchen fires. In 2002 there were over 150,000 kitchen fires reported in the US alone[1]. Some of these fires could have been prevented if our proposed product had existed then. In addition to fire prevention, Kitchen Alert will also provide several convenience features making the cooking experience more enjoyable. When our system is compared to existing solutions in this report, it is quite evident that our product offers more than any of the current methods. Our product has the potential to become the new standard in both kitchen safety and convenience. Our company, General Gadgets Canada, is composed of four bright engineers in their fifth year of studies at Simon Fraser University. We have all worked together successfully many times throughout our time at SFU and we will utilize each member s strengths and skill sets to achieve our goal of creating a safe and convenient Kitchen Alert system. Each of us will put in the necessary time to research, design, test, and document the development of our prototype system to create the best prototype that we can. Following a three month project timeline, our product prototype is scheduled to be completed April 2009, on time and within our tentative self-funded budget of $750. ii

4 Contents Executive Summary List of Figures ii iv 1 Introduction 1 2 System Overview 2 3 Potential and Existing Solutions Timer Method Stove Guard by Stove Guard International Ltd Miscellaneous Methods Proposed Solution 4 5 Information Sources 5 6 Budget and Funding 6 7 Timeline 7 8 Team Organization 7 9 Corporate Structure 8 10 Conclusion 9 References 10 iii

5 List of Figures 2.1 Graphical System Overview Gantt Chart Milestone Chart iv

6 ..1 Introduction Many lives are saved daily due to the heroic efforts of fire fighters all around the world. According to the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners, Residential Property fires continue to account for the largest number of fires[2]. Most of these fires originate from the kitchen and this is such a large cause for concern that Health Canada warns people: When you are deep frying any food, STAY in the kitchen. Do not leave for even a minute[3]. Our product, Kitchen Alert, is designed to create a safer cooking environment while providing the user with added convenience. Kitchen Alert provides an array of safety features designed to work together to create the best kitchen safety device on the market today. The system will monitor all cooking activities and look for signs of fire or potential cooking disasters. By being able to detect the cooking environment Kitchen Alert distinguishes itself from its competitors. Due to the nature of its design Kitchen Alert will work with both electric and gas stoves. Kitchen Alert will also provide users with some convenience features not currently available in the market. Our system will be able to detect when the contents of a pot are about to boil over and alert the user that immediate attention is required. This feature combined with other convenience factors make Kitchen Alert more than just a safety device. The remainder of our proposal will discuss the system design, potential solutions and our proposed solution. The report will also include sources of information, the timeline for completion and the budget requirement for this system. To highlight the capability of General Gadgets management, a description of the members and the corporate structure is included. 1 Introduction 1.

7 2 System Overview System Overview Our product, Kitchen Alert will consist of a collection of different sensors, and a computing element. The sensors will be used to collect data on the current stovetop conditions. Based on the observed conditions, we will compute the overall situation at hand and decide if there is a dangerous situation or potential inconveniences. Kitchen Alert will then take any action necessary according to the computed situation. The system will be packaged as an over the stovetop box. A graphical overview of the system is shown below in Figure 2.1. Figure 2.1: Graphical System Overview To be able to compute the stove area situation, there are certain conditions that we will have to detect. Kitchen Alert will be built to detect whether the burner is on or off, the presence of any smoke, the humidity and the temperature of the stove area, as well as whether or not the stove is being attended to. Our product will also detect changes in the height level of pot contents to warn the user in situations where the contents are about to boil over.

8 By analyzing all the gathered data, we will be able to compute the overall situation of the stove-top. Based on the situation, Kitchen Alert will then decide on any necessary action or actions, and show the user the needed information via a display on the Kitchen Alert unit. If we choose to integrate the Kitchen Alert into the range hood and stove, it would then be possible to actually control the appliances when action is required...3 Potential and Existing Solutions Currently, people take various approaches to prevent disasters while cooking on their kitchen stoves. However, many of these methods are still not sufficient for keeping the kitchen a safe working environment. Even for the most cautious of cooks distractions abound with door bells, pets and incoming phone calls to name just a few. It is inevitable that at some point during the cooking process, the user will leave the kitchen or become distracted. What the user needs is a system to supply them with feedback on the status of their cooking, whether or not they are in the kitchen. What follows is a list of some of the methods currently used along with their limitations Timer Method A timer is commonly used to audibly remind the user to take certain actions during the cooking process. While this is an easy and intuitive way to keep the user alert if they are drawn away from the kitchen, it has several pitfalls. First and foremost, it requires the user to manually set and activate the timer, often several times during the cooking process. If the user makes a mistake setting the time, or forgets to turn on the timer, it could lead to unpleasant consequences. Secondly, the user often has to estimate the time required for certain cooking tasks, and therefore is prone to making mistakes, especially if the user is preparing a specific dish for the first time. Digital timers are indeed useful in the kitchen, but it still requires a lot of user attention to be properly utilized Stove Guard by Stove Guard International Ltd The Stove Guard is an aftermarket safety device for electric stoves[4]. It operates with a timer and a motion sensor. If no motion is detected in the kitchen for a pre-set amount of time, the device cuts power to the stove to prevent stove fires. It can also be set to shut off power to the stove with the timer, regardless of the input to the motion sensor. This device appears to be an in- 3 Potential and Existing Solutions 3.

9 4 Proposed Solution. 3.3 Miscellaneous Methods4.4. novative product, however the major problem associated with it is that it does not work with gas stoves. Since it relies heavily on a timer as an input, it suffers from similar disadvantages as using a standalone timer as was previously mentioned. If the time is set too long, it may be too late for the system to shut off before a fire occurs, thus defeating the purpose of using this device. All in all, this method still does not provide enough feedback to the user when critical attention is required Miscellaneous Methods A description of the current methods would not be complete without mentioning the simple techniques people use everyday. These include: shutting off the burners before leaving the kitchen, having a family member or guest keep watch on the stove while the user tends to other business, and keeping mental notes to check up on the kitchen frequently. While these methods could be quite effective if applied one hundred percent of the time, the fact is people are going to make mistakes and be inattentive. Consequently these methods are even less reliable than those mentioned above...4 Proposed Solution Our proposed solution, Kitchen Alert, combines the existing methods of kitchen disaster prevention and incorporates them into an electronic product targeted primarily for gas stoves, but will be compatible with electric stoves as well. It will include innovative features that enhance the user s safety and cooking experience. Kitchen Alert will provide extra audio and visual feedback of the stove s operating condition based on temperature, motion, humidity, and other environmental inputs from the kitchen. Our product will be designed to monitor the cooking area in real-time and alert the user when critical attention is required, thus reducing the user s stress level and reliance on the user to constantly oversee the entire cooking process. The marketability behind our product is driven by potential partnership with kitchen appliance manufacturers to integrate Kitchen Alert into their stoves, maximizing convenience and creating a competitive edge. Through partnership with stove manufacturers, our invention could be recognized as a new standard for kitchen safety. The limitation of our proposed solution is that it simply alerts the user to take action when it senses a critical state in the environment, rather than automatically handling the situation as required. Therefore the user must remain close

10 to the kitchen to ensure maximum kitchen safety. This limitation is due to the fact that realistically designing a fully automated kitchen monitor poses an extremely high level of difficulty for an undergraduate engineering project on a tight schedule...5 Information Sources To insure that the Kitchen Alert system is produced on time and on budget there are several areas for which we need information. This product is designed to help save lives and money by preventing kitchen fires; therefore we will be in touch with firefighters in the metro Vancouver area. Their expertise will help us insure that our product is addressing the issue correctly. This project will involve a mixture of hardware and software skills. Through our background in the Engineering science field combined with our industry experience, we believe our team is capable of handling this project. In addition, we will be able to get assistance from various faculty members at Simon Fraser University with whom we have built professional relationships. We will be using the internet in all aspects of our project as a source of information. With the help of the internet we are able to get in contact with potential users and suppliers. Furthermore, many parts required for the completion of the Kitchen Alert system will be ordered through the internet. Lastly, the entrepreneurial mindset of select members of the group will help us insure that the product is marketable and produced on time and on budget. 5 Information Sources 5.

11 6 Budget and Funding Budget and Funding Included in Table 6.1 is our preliminary budget for our Kitchen Alert system. Expensive items have been singled out, such as the infrared-temperature sensor, while other sensors and indicators have been grouped together in our estimates. All costs have been overestimated to allow for unknown factors. In addition for some of the parts, such as the microcontroller, we may be ordering duplicates in case any parts are damaged during the course of the project. Table 6.1: Preliminary Budget Equipment Estimated Cost Infrared Temperature Sensor $250 Microcontroller $100 Distance Finder $150 Other Sensors $100 Indicators $50 Misc $100 Total $750 In terms of funding we plan to self finance our project, dividing the costs equally among all team members, excepting the $50 for basic electronic components offered through the School of Engineering Science.

12 ..7 Timeline Our prospective schedule for the project is outlined in Figures 7.1 and 7.2 which show our work schedule and milestones, respectively. We are expecting that since many of the sensors in our design operate independently that we will be able to integrate the various components throughout the assembly process. Proposal 19 Research 9 Functional Specs 16 Design Specs 2 Assembly 24 Final Integration 6 Debugging 6 Project Proposal January February March April Progress Report Figure 7.1: Gantt Chart Functional Specs 2 16 January February March April..8 Team Organization Design Specs Figure 7.2: Milestone Chart 2 Prototype Complete 6 Post-Mortem Demo Group dynamics plays one of the most important roles in determining the success of a project. We are taking several approaches to ensure that the progress of our project flows smoothly through to completion. Bi-weekly meetings will be a staple of our approach. Each meeting will have a clearly defined agenda and at the end of each meeting tasks will be assigned to be completed prior to the next meeting. The remainder of the meetings will be to discuss our future plans and to deal with problems as they arise. 8 Team Organization 7.

13 9 Corporate Structure8.9. To avoid the problems that inevitably arise when multiple people work on the same documents, we have set up a project workspace on SFU s Sakai system. This allows us to have a centralized location to store all our files related to the project as well as a place to post meeting agendas and minutes. Assigning each group member specific roles within our team will clearly indicate responsibility. In terms of high level roles we have assigned Rasam Hafezi to be our Chief Executive Officer and resource manager. From there we have more project based roles. Eric Matthews will be VP of Software, Edward Lee VP of Quality Assurance and Alex Kung VP of Hardware. In planning for this course we have all chosen to take light course loads in order to have a flexible and open work schedule. Each group member will be assigned a portion of the project to be responsible for matching their background and strengths. The leader of that section is not required to be the principal worker on that task but to ensure the task has the correct amount of personnel assigned in order to finish on time. We believe that with the methods described above we are well prepared to take on this project and, that while not everything will go as expected, our planning will well prepare us to tackle any issue that should arise...9 Corporate Structure Rasam Hafezi - CEO (Chief Executive Officer) I am in my final year of Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University. I have technical experience both in hardware and software fields. In my past work experiences I have managed a production company and have worked on development teams. I also bring an entrepreneurial mindset to the team. Alex Kung - VP Hardware I am a fifth year Systems Engineering student at Simon Fraser University. Through co-ops at WebCT and Glentel, and a directed studies course at SFU, I have gained useful experiences. A laptop-based point of sales system and a vacuum chamber enclosed force measurement system are two test systems I have worked on. Courses at SFU have given me familiarity with sensors, circuits, and programming.

14 Edward Lee - VP Quality Assurance I am a fifth year Systems Engineering student at Simon Fraser University. I have knowledge and experience in many aspects of engineering through my academic option, including embedded systems, C/C++/Assembly programming, and sensors and actuators. My recent co-op terms at QNX Software Systems as a QA assistant has provided me invaluable software skills for quality assurance. My contribution to the team will largely focus on the QA aspect for both hardware and software. Eric Matthews - VP Software I am a fifth year Electronics Engineering student at Simon Fraser University. I bring a wide range of experience from my co-ops at PMC-Sierra, Intel and a research co-op at Simon Fraser University. I have a strong background in FPGAs, C programming and device driver writing, as well as practical soldering skills...10 Conclusion We at General Gadgets are dedicated to protecting the lives of people through the development of our kitchen safety product, Kitchen Alert. When released, Kitchen Alert will be the most comprehensive kitchen safety device available in the market. Through the use of the latest technologies we will create a system that will help reduce injuries and property damage caused by kitchen fires. Kitchen Alert will create a safer and less stressful cooking environment for its users. Through its safety features Kitchen Alert will give peace of mind to everyone in the family, and with its convenience features make cooking a more pleasant experience. We believe that we have created a very competent team to spearhead this product creation. Through the use of our expertise and careful planning we believe that this product will be delivered on time and under budget. At General Gadgets we put enormous value on human life and we will do our part to protect it. 10 Conclusion 9.

15 References.References10.. References [1] U.S. Fire Administration, Topical Fire Research Series: Kitchen Fires, Topical Fire Research Series, vol. 4, October [2] Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners: Canadian Fire Statistics. [Online]. Available: [3] Health Canada, Stop Cooking Fires BEFORE they happen! [Online]. Available: [4] Stove Guard International Ltd. [Online]. Available: