Airo
Foggy mirrors are annoying.
It's a problem that many experience but have taken for granted. The solution? Airo. Airo offers an automated, non-structural, plug-and-play solution to the annoying problem of foggy mirrors.
Sep-Dec 2024
In collaboration with Ethan Solodukin
Process.
Divergent Ideas.
Out of the three ideas, VapoDense was not chosen to develop due to the high prototyping costs and energy usage.
Developing Cleerly
Cleerly was selected for development because it requires users to manually wipe the mirror. My research indicated that some users enjoyed drawing on their mirrors, which influenced this decision.
Cleerly
Proof-of-Concept.
Model: I stuck a stainless steel sheet to a piece of wood with a circle at the rear then layered a sheet of fabric on top. A heat gun was then used to heat the stainless steel sheet to a high temperature, acting as the heating element in the design.
Outcome: The model cleared most of the mirror in 1 minute, longer than expected. To improve automation, a timer or humidity sensor may be needed. As anticipated, the heated areas stayed unfogged even after a second shower.
Developing Airo
Airo was chosen to develop due to its similarities with existing solutions, such as the ventilation system within a car.
Form development.
Foam-core model to test how air flows through the enclosure.
Fan testing.
Created a 3D-printed model which directed the air vertically through a thin slot. With the airflow test, it was clear that the axial fans I used were not powerful enough. The blower-style fan on the right was much more powerful.
Proof-of-Concept.
Model: A hair dryer was disassembled and enclosed within a wooden container, which focused the hot air as a blade across the mirror. uses suction cups to adhere to the surface of the mirror.
Outcome: The model cleared most of the mirror in 1 minute, longer than expected. To improve automation, a timer or humidity sensor may be needed. As anticipated, the heated areas stayed unfogged even after a second shower.
User Feedback.
I presented the render on the left and the results from the concept model to interview participants. They provided key feedback points.
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There is a need for additional features such as a clock and light to justify the purchase of the product.
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They appreciated that Airo cleared the mirror independently, but they wanted it to happen more quickly, suggesting automation features.
CAD Ideation.
Explored various plausible user interface solutions, experimenting with sliders, buttons, tactility, and scale.
Solution.
Introducing, Airo, an automated mirror defogger.
Function.
The device works by blowing heated air across the surface of the mirror, elimitinating any condensation (fog) present on the surface.
Simple Installation.
The device is stuck onto the mirror using four heavy-duty suction cups. This prevents any damage to the mirror from adhesives or other solutions.
Automated.
A humidity sensor activates the defogger automatically at a certain humidity level, ensuring the mirror is clear right after the user exits the shower.
Humidity Sensor.
The sensor has a sleek design that integrates seamlessly into any bathroom and connects wirelessly to the main device using Bluetooth Low Energy.
Adjustable sensitivity.
Users can easily adjust the humidity threshold using the digital display and navigation buttons. If the defogger activates too early during a shower, they can simply increase the threshold percentage.
Cost effective internals.
The device uses commonly available and cheap components, similar to the ones used within a hair dryers and wireless computer mice. The most expensive component will likely be the circuit board, which contains the Bluetooth module and recieves signals from the humidity sensor.
Magnified Mirror.
A magnified mirror and LED allow users to get a closer view of their faces in the bathroom. This can aid in shaving, brushing teeth, and applying makeup.
Manual control UI.
In addition to automation, the user can manually control the device's functions. The tactile sliders effectively communicate each adjustment level. The numbered slider on the left indicates heat and fan speed levels. On the right, simple and intuitive hierarchic circles indicate the brightness of the LED around the mirror.