A multipart distributed modelling approach for an automated protection system in open-air cloth drying

Abstract

There are different methods of drying wet clothes, but drying with direct sunlight is considered the best suited for the preservation of the quality and usability of the cloths. However, sudden rainfall during the drying period constitutes a major drawback of the method. This returns the cloths to a drenched state as it is practically impossible to watch the clothes dry off after washing. This paper has proposed a model for an automated system for controlled open-air fabric drying by detecting the rain and moisture status of the cloths in real-time, and capable of shielding them to safety from the rainfall and excess sun. The modelled part considers the sensing model, drying model, control model, and their validation. The implementation and evaluation stage relates the result of the validated results to the developed prototypes. The simulated results in the sensing unit indicate above 87.5% agreements with the analytical results, and the controller simulated result provides a relatively small overshoot and faster dynamic response. Manufacturers of hanger systems for cloth drying have a basis for the design and implementation of their products in the paper.