Smart IoT soundproofing panels for enhanced environmental comfort

In the context of Ambient Assisted Living, the SISSI project aims to integrate soundproofing panels with IoT technologies, developing a new modular system to improve the comfort of people living and working in shared environments by taking advantage of the acoustic properties of the panels and the automatic monitoring of some relevant environmental variables. To reach a satisfying solution the need to experiment with different technologies arose, and thus the team needed to share observations, problems, and solutions right from the design phase. The first step was checking if perforating the company's current sound-absorbing panels and incorporating electronic components would affect their efficiency, measuring the material's performances in the laboratory to verify its sound absorption value. Measurements were conducted in compliance with ISO 354 standards, assessing both types of sound-absorbing materials in various configurations. They show that arranging the material in a checkerboard pattern or in "thinned" lines is more advantageous in terms of absorption. Indeed, the laboratory tests have shown that a smaller amount of material results in better sound-absorbing characteristics. With this data, the final IoT panel will be more sustainable because less material can be used. In the second step, new panels with integrated sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, CO2, brightness, and people's presence were tested. Based on the data collected, the team defined the functions of the panel, which will be able to monitor the level of air oxygenation and control room or desk brightness level and to switch on or off when the user is present, thus reducing energy consumption. The experimental results changed the redesign of the panels, which now feature accessible electronic components and an interior that is not fully packed with material. Furthermore, the system is designed to integrate additional elements, such as lighting and electronic devices, for seamless interaction with the surrounding environment. Importantly, the sound-absorbing panel system will also provide clear user signals about the monitoring status, enhancing comfort.