WIP GitHub Repo stars GitHub

Public Research & Development Project

Open Smart Height Adjustable Desk

An innovative, sensor-equipped desk that adjusts its height based on the user's time spent in front of the computer. It can suggest breaks or raise itself autonomously to encourage standing work.

GitHub Discord

Mission

A Health Imperative: Addressing Sedentary Lifestyle

In the modern world, an increasing number of people are working remotely, spending their work hours in front of a computer. After work, they continue to use computers for shopping, handling administrative matters, and entertainment. Many of us, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, have experienced spending the entire day in front of a screen, from the moment we wake up until we go to bed. This lifestyle, if unchecked, can lead to health issues.

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to serious health problems, including spinal and joint diseases, resulting in mobility issues. These civilization diseases not only generate significant costs for the global economy but also cause tremendous inconvenience for those affected.

Height-adjustable desks were theoretically designed to combat the sedentary lifestyle. However, in practice, many of us don't utilize them to their full potential. We often forget or lack the motivation to change positions, enduring the discomfort that comes with it. This realization inspired the idea for the Open Smart Desk.

This project was initiated to change that. The goal is to develop smart features that monitor our presence and desk height, in order to motivate us to lead a healthier lifestyle. This is intended to achieved through a gamification system that makes the process engaging and fun.

The dream is to create a communication and control system for the desk that makes daily position changes in front of the computer a pleasant, natural, and non-invasive experience. The hope is that one day, the solutions developed here will become widespread worldwide, helping to ward off the specter of civilization diseases for millions of intellectual workers.

Hardware

RPi4 + 4 relays board + PIR + laser range sensor + plexi laser cutted enclousure

Detailed parts list

Raspbery Pi 4 model B (4GB)
Raspbery Pi 4 model B (4GB)

This is a bit overkill. I am planning to use RPi0 in next version.

Buy US$90
Raspberry Pi Zero W 512MB RAM - WiFi + BT 4.1
Raspberry Pi Zero W 512MB RAM - WiFi + BT 4.1

Cheaper replacement of RPi4. Still I am missing ETH port.

Buy US$21
Waveshare RPi Relay Board (11638)
Waveshare RPi Relay Board (11638)

Buy US$16
Laser metter VL53L0X
Laser metter VL53L0X

Buy US$10
Motion sensor PIR HC-SR501
Motion sensor PIR HC-SR501

Buy US$3
Power supply EPS-35-5 (5V, 6A)
Power supply EPS-35-5 (5V, 6A)

Buy US$17
Power supply AC-DC 5V, 2A
Power supply AC-DC 5V, 2A

Cheaper & smaller replacement of previuous, expensive power supply. Found on AliExpress.

Buy US$5
SP2112/S4 female panel socket
SP2112/S4 female panel socket

Buy US$5
SP2110/P4II male plug
SP2110/P4II male plug

Buy US$5
4x low nut M3 (black, oxidized, 3mm height)
4x low nut M3 (black, oxidized, 3mm height)

Buy US$1
6x spherical screw M3x8 (black, hex socket)
6x spherical screw M3x8 (black, hex socket)

Buy US$1
C14 male panel socket
C14 male panel socket

Buy US$2
C13 female cable
C13 female cable

Regular PC power cable

Buy US$3
microSD card 32GB
microSD card 32GB

Control Unit

v0.1

Plexi Cutted
Ordered online, CNC laser cutted plexiglass for the housing.
Wiring
First assembly of Control Unit...
Wiring Explained
..described what's inside.

I don't recommend this housing design. No air flow provided, so electronics is overheating. Must be redesigned.

v0.1.1

In this version I just replaced power supply with smaller one.

Control Unit
Control Unit
4-pin plug and socket for motor control
4-pin plug and socket for motor control (+230V UP, +230V DOWN, Neutral, GND)
Control Unit with PIR sensor (movement detector)
Control Unit with PIR sensor (movement detector)
Inside of control unit (v2 with smaller power supply)
Inside of control unit (v2 with smaller power supply)

In next version I plan to replace PRi4 with RPi0. I am just not sure if VS Studio SSH Remote will support it.

User Panel

I have never finished this component. Elements doesn't fit enclosure - not enough space to connect electronic components together. PCB and 3D printed enclosure are required remodeling.

User Panel
User Panel

Netherless I have planned to use:

Software

I conducted experiments using both Node.js (more extensive version) and Python. While working with Python, I encountered some serious threading issues that I wasn't qualified to solve, so I decided to abandon this approach. In the Node.js version, I ended up with a web interface that replicates the physical controller. It processes data from the laser meter and can switch relays.

Web interface of Open Smart Desk
Web interface of Open Smart Desk

Goals & Challenges

Seamless and Engaging User Experience

A crucial part of the research process is to develop a way of encouraging the user to take a break or work standing up that won't be irritating or distracting during meetings. In order to create a seamless experience, it's important to gather information about users, their needs, and preferences, as well as to collect various ideas on how to approach this challenge from the community. The goal is to make the intelligent desk feel like an extension of the user, much like a driver feels their car.

Shipping in on the market

We aim to build a business model that allows us to integrate our IoT solution with already existing desks in the market. We don't intend to compete with desk manufacturers, but rather to be a supplier of an IoT solution that can be integrated with existing market solutions. At the same time, we need funding to develop the product so that it's intuitive and ergonomic, and can be widely adopted to help people. How can we achieve this?

Licensing

Open HSP

Open Smart Desk is an Open HSP initiative where everything is open on GPL-3.0 License:

  • H (Hardware) stands for projects of electronic boards which you can print yourself
  • S (Software) stands for ready to use firmware you can use on printed hardware
  • P (Printables) stands for cases and other plastic elements you can print on a 3D printer and use with our hardware

With all elements in place, you can assemble a complete device. You can use it as-is or fork and modify it for your needs.

Join us!

Become a Part of the Working Group!

For now I have only built a prototype of the device that measures time, controls the motors, and has a physical interface (buttons and display). But it isn't finshed and still requires a lot of experiments, ideas, developement and improvements.