Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm (BRAD)

why do I get the feeling that romantic mode doesn't get used much.

While cool in concept it seems rather slow to work, the drapes need to close, then one of the lights dim, then the table lamp goes off, why not do that all at once.
 
Anyone know where I can get these things, or how much they cost:

1.) Motion detector.
2.) Wireless lamp remote.
3.) motorized curtain puller.

I know of some top-end models, but I doubt a college student has that kind of cash.

I'd love to know how to rig this stuff up for cheap..
 
I like "Emergency Party Mode".

More like "Emergency LIGHTSWITCH RAVE". :D
 
To think way back in the day I used string and push pins as pulleys to make 90 degree turns all along my wall to turn off the lights when I was in bed.
 
Looks like this guy needs to spend more time studying.

That motor for the curtains is whiny and would drive me crazy.
 
I don't think party mode is used either. Really, what party? in that closet ?

Those dorms look like prison cells.
Foxconn factory dorms might even be nicer than that.
 
man that is really cool lol


mcravenufo said:
To think way back in the day I used string and push pins as pulleys to make 90 degree turns all along my wall to turn off the lights when I was in bed.
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hahaha
 
dr.kevin said:
I don't think party mode is used either. Really, what party? in that closet ?

Those dorms look like prison cells.
Foxconn factory dorms might even be nicer than that.
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Maybe you've been away from college too long, when I was a frosh in the 90's, I often saw 20-25 people crammed into one dorm for a 'party'. Only when you're 18 does something like that sound appealing.
 
Trackr said:
I know of some top-end models, but I doubt a college student has that kind of cash.

I'd love to know how to rig this stuff up for cheap..
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He could (probably is) some sort of engineering student and built some of the stuff. While Berkeley has over the years devolved into more of a liberal arts lets protest everything type of school some of its departments are still among the most elite in the country/world.

However guessing by the the computer integration maybe a double major with computer science? :D
 
As interesting and somewhat impressive as all of this is:

A clap control system would simplify half of that room's processes, though I don't see activating anything other than the wake-up alarm as even slightly time consuming or inconvenient.

The room also appears to be shared by four students so the wake-up alarm must have lasted like a day, it's bad enough having a room mate's alarm go off, but having the whole room lit up is just asking for a punch to the face. Face punch is also the predicted result for when someone walks into the room at night and the motion sensor picks them up.

As an owner of a number of lasers systems I also have a few qualms with that laser setup in terms of eye safety.

... and the blacklight is just asking for trouble :D

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy the effort put in and some of the designs implemented but I find the whole thing largely impractical.
 
Marlfox said:
... and the blacklight is just asking for trouble :D
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Yeah I was thinking that if his idea of "romantic" setting is a cheesy high school dance setup (same music too), then if that black light is anywhere near his keyboard/bed.... ugh.
 
Brings back memories of my time in the Davidson Hall dorm at Cal. I see the rooms are still just as crappy.
 
mcravenufo said:
To think way back in the day I used string and push pins as pulleys to make 90 degree turns all along my wall to turn off the lights when I was in bed.
Click to expand...

Careful, wouldn't want to burn any calories, Jabba. :D
 
Nice, from Justin Bieber to wake you up to Avicii - Levels to party to. :cool:
 
Heh. We had the black-light and strobe........but any other lights were from the massive stereo-system:
Amp, preamp, reverb unit, equalizer unit, dual cassette, cd, slot-load record player, laser disk, two VCR's, front/rear speaker pairs. Looked like NASA control.

Best movie/music in the dorm though.;)

Of course today's audio/videophiles are minimalistic.
 
The room also appears to be shared by four students so the wake-up alarm must have lasted like a day, it's bad enough having a room mate's alarm go off, but having the whole room lit up is just asking for a punch to the face.
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There are only two people in that dorm room. The beds are lofted so the desks can go underneath. The older dorms at other UC's have the exact same room layout.

I agree that while the tech isn't necessarily new, his implimentation is impressive for a freshman.
 
When you're in a room so small that you can literally reach every control from one location, why automate? He'd have been better served using his time to build a poon-bot or something he might actually use. :eek:
 
Love the party mode. Brings back memories from my time at Cal, the units look just as horrible back in my day. Back in my era, we had coax running between the rooms and mad games of Warcraft.
 
looks better than most dorms i've been to.

While maybe not needed for a dorm room, it certainly would transition into a home. The next home i build will be completely automated. Something I've wanted to do for a long time.
I wanted to be a bit more extreme though, and add stuff like soil moisture sensors for automatic lawn watering/ plant. I dunno i won't go into full detail, but basically make things effortless and power efficient.
 
EchtoGammut said:
Love the party mode. Brings back memories from my time at Cal, the units look just as horrible back in my day. Back in my era, we had coax running between the rooms and mad games of Warcraft.
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Yeah isn't it funny that "back in the day" we got e-boners just because of ResNET nice fast internet right on the school's backbone (well partially) now... but then again most people had dialup at the time :D
 
Trackr said:
Anyone know where I can get these things, or how much they cost:

1.) Motion detector.
2.) Wireless lamp remote.
3.) motorized curtain puller.

I know of some top-end models, but I doubt a college student has that kind of cash.

I'd love to know how to rig this stuff up for cheap..
Click to expand...

Ebay! You can get the device modules and the sensors for way cheap if you search correctly. Usually like 75% off what the X10 website sells them for.

I paid $6 for my motion sensor (new), $5 for a door sensor, and about $5ea for various light switches or modules.

Btw, what this guy did was nothing that impressive. He literally just did an X10 mock up, which is why you hear the "CLICK" when something is switched. The newer modules are quieter (from other companies). There's software for both Android and iOS to control the devices and/or you can use the PC.

The drapes can be done with a slow (stepper or otherwise) motor and a specialized (X10 will work) switch that is momentarily on. The software can be set to be "on for 20s" etc ..

I have X10 in the master bedroom, as well as controlling my irrigation system and outdoor security lights.
 
This isn't news worthy. It's a rather simple attempt at home automation. It is cool, no doubt, but it isn't anything new by any means. And it isn't doing much more than any bare bones HA system will give you. There isn't a room in my house that isn't more automated than that dorm room.
 
Ya berkeley is full of kids like this. When I was in the dorms there I had a roommate who hollowed out the wall to put a motor in it and then put a touch pad outside which unlocks the door when you rhythmically type a tempo into it. It is one of the best schools for eecs (electrical engineering and computer science) so it is full of techies like that.
 
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