Research Paper Draft 2

Smell Smoke Sensor: Collecting Actionable Evidence in Smoke-Free Areas

ABSTRACT

I am studying smoke sensors because I want to find out how to detect if someone has been smoking in prohibited areas in order to collect concrete actionable evidence. Additionally, I will research what other sensors can be included to offer a convenient bundled multi-sensor for businesses. The Smell Smoke Sensor (SSS) will be a product targeted to hotels, college dorms and other public spaces.

KEYWORDS

Smoke, smell, air, sensor, cigarettes, tar, marijuana, carbon monoxide, fire

INTRODUCTION

Since 2001 cigarette sales have been decreasing more each year. Despite this continuous health and environmental improvement, in 2014 42 million Americans still smoked cigarettes. [1] Many people quit smoking as a whole but a fraction of smokers substituted conventional cigarettes with electronic cigarettes. [2]

In 2008 most hotels across the US banned smoking indoors. [3] In order to discourage guests from smoking in the rooms, hotels enforce a $250 charge when they find out if the policy has been violated. The collected money mainly serves to perform deep cleaning when the smell of smoke is very noticeable.

On top of cigarette smokers, marijuana smokers have also become more numerous in the US. About 14 million Americans smoke marijuana regularly and 25 million have smoked it in the past year. [4]

Although hotels can fine their guests it is difficult to blame the correct person. Guilty guests can also argue that the smell was already in the room when they arrived or worst, hotels can risk upsetting innocent guests.

I intend to solve this problem by offering hotels the chance to collect hard evidence when someone is smoking in their room. I will create a smoke sensor that is meant to go unnoticed. This device can have an application in public spaces such as schools and hotels. The most suitable location for this device is near windows since that is where people are most likely to be smoking.

REFERENCES

For this project I chose to look at innovative devices that came to market recently. I also found these products interesting because they collect and provide different sets of information.

Nest Protect: Nest Protect (figure 1) is a squared smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) sensor attached to the ceiling. It currently retails at $99 per device. Nest Protect is connected to your phone and it can inform you specifically on what’s wrong; if it’s smoke, burned popcorn or high levels of CO in your home. Nest Protect is able to speak and if you are in one room it will tell you if something is going on in another room. When the alarm goes off but there is nothing wrong, you can turn the alarm off from your phone. It is marketed as a product to substitute current smoke detectors. Nest Protect claims to be able to detect fires very faster than conventional sensors. [5]

Figure 1: Nest Protect

Canary: Canary (figure 2) is a security device that is able to record video, audio and air quality. Canary is controlled from an Android or iPhone. Canary sends you motion alerts to your phone. It also allows you to set off a siren from your phone whenever you decide. It can monitor air quality, temperature and humidity in your home. Additionally, infrared LED’s enable it to have night vision. Canary retails at $199 and it provides three premium plans to record and keep more data. Canary connects to the Wi-Fi or Ethernet and it requires to be plugged in the wall for electricity. [6]

Figure 2: Canary

Amazon Echo: Amazon Echo (figure 3) is a hybrid of a Siri type device and speakers. It retails at $179 on amazon.com. Echo provides information, music, audiobooks, news, weather, traffic and sports. It can be controlled with your voice and it is able to hear you from across the room. [7]

Figure 3: Amazon Echo

Fresh Air Sensor: Fresh Air Sensor (figure 4) is a product that hasn’t gone to market yet. This sensor will come in two versions, mobile or installed on power sockets. Fresh Air Sensor claims it can detect nicotine and marijuana from each other. Their mobile device will be connected via Bluetooth and powered by batteries and it will transfer data to an Android application. [8]

Figure 4: Fresh Air Sensor Prototypes

PROPOSAL

Smell Smoke Sensor (SSS) will be placed on the ceiling because smoke tends to move upwards. This happens because “smoke is usually created by fire, so smoke is warmer than the air around it.” [9] Therefore when a gas is warm it is less dense or, in other words, lighter.

When SSS detects smoke from cigarettes or marijuana it will collect the time and location of the sensor. The information will be received via Wi-Fi and it will be displayed on a website for remote control. SSS will provide concrete actionable proof. It will allow hotel receptionists to check the state of a room before checking-out their guests. SSS will avoid any embarrassing accusations to guests who haven’t smoked and it will allow the persecution of the one’s who have.

In addition to a cigarette and marijuana detector SSS will include other relevant sensors that monitor air quality and the presence of smoke caused by fire.

RESEARCH

Very little research can be found on violations of non-smoking policies. Therefore I will carry out interviews with managers or receptionists of hotels in Manhattan. I plan to give a brief description of my project before asking three questions.

Description: I am working on a project that concentrates on smoke and smell sensors in hotel rooms at Parsons and I was hoping to ask you a few questions.

1. Do you encounter issues with guests violating the non-smoking policy?

2. If yes, how often?

3. How are you able to prove and consequently charge the violators with a fine?

CONCULSION

I am creating a proof of concept with an Arduino and MQ sensors. The sensors I plan to use are the MQ-2, MQ-3 and MQ-5. They all detect slightly different gasses allowing me to prototype a device that is sensitive to the smell of smoke, air quality and smoke from fires.

NEXT STEPS

I plan to interview hotel managers in New York to learn more about smoking issues they encounter.

I will research what causes smoke to smell bad and what other features could be included in a sensor device attached to the ceiling.

SOURCES

1. "Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Aug. 2015. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

2."Electronic Cigarettes (e-Cigarettes)." DrugFacts:. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

3."Hotels." - No-smoke.org. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

4."NORML.org - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws." About Marijuana. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

5."Meet Nest Protect." Nest. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

6."Canary - A Complete Security System in a Single Device." Canary - A Complete Security System in a Single Device. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

7. "Amazon Echo: Always Ready, Connected, and Fast." Amazon Echo: Always Ready, Connected, and Fast. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

8."What We Do." FreshAir Sensor Corp. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

9. Karvinen, Tero, Kimmo Karvinen, and Ville Valtokari. "Smoke and Gas." Make: Sensors. Sebastopol: Maker Media, 2014. Print