Circadian Hues 2.0 — Intelligent Human-Centric Lighting
A bio-adaptive lighting system that synchronizes artificial environments with human circadian rhythms.
33% of adults suffer from insomnia or daytime sleepiness due to sleep-wake cycle disruptions.
Current Market Spectrum
On one end, over-engineered products (like Dyson) offer precision but feel cold, mechanical, and prohibitively expensive. On the other, pseudo-smart mass-market options (like OSIN) rely heavily on manual App control, creating friction that disrupts the very biological rhythms they aim to support.
The Traditional Giants
$199.99 USD
+
Broad Ecosystem / Smart Home Native
Generic Utility / App Dependency
-
The Sleep Specialists
$129.00 USD
+
Intuitive Gestures / Sleep-Centric
Limited Scope / No Task Mode
-
The Engineers
$649.99 USD
+
Precision Engineering / High Performance
Over-Engineered / Over-Priced
-
Current circadian lighting solutions suffer from a polarized experience gap.
High Tech / Cold
The Oppotunity
The balance between precision engineering and sensory comfort.
Low Tech / Manual
The V1.0 prototype was a modular wooden structure designed to test a dual-purpose form factor: a manually extendable lamp arm for tailored workspace lighting that could also fold down into a compact ambient light.
Beyond its physical mechanics, it served as the primary testbed for integrating bio-adaptive lighting algorithms with Azure IoT and training an Edge AI model to achieve 92% accurate human presence detection.
Circadian Hues 1.0
Group project by Yulin Li, Sebastian Qian & Chaney He
While the V1.0 prototype proved the system's logic, I initiated a comprehensive redesign to elevate the device from a functional experiment to a high-fidelity consumer product.
V2.0 prioritizes the user experience. The architecture was completely rebuilt to make interaction natural and intuitive.
A translucent silicone material was selected for the articulating neck to reveal the mechanical beauty of the movement while protecting the flexible spine.
Inspired by a peel-to-open motion, the act of unfolding the lamp becomes a natural extension of the user’s intent.
The structure utilizes an extruded metal tube. This seamless form was chosen specifically to minimize dirt traps and facilitate easy wipe-down cleaning following user interaction.
A snap-to-fit magnetic power cord that follows the lamp's contours, ensuring a clutter-free profile and effortless connectivity.
A fluid transition from ambient repose to active focus. By downplaying the rigid hinges, the continuous spine allows the lamp to 'wake up' with a natural, organic motion.
Before achieving the sleek metallic finish and fluid spine of V2.0, I spent months iterating on the core logic. V1.0 was our technical laboratory—where we synchronized Azure IoT data, trained Machine Learning models for presence detection, and established the bio-adaptive lighting formulas that remain the core of the final design.
Hardware Device
Web APP
Light
ULTRASONIC SENSOR
LED STRIP ALITOVE 12V WS2811
VEML7700
TTP223B SWITCH
ESP32 WROOM
Start
A functional deep-dive
The V1.0 phase focused on validating the technology
Testing the mechanical structure
Writing Python code
Soldering circuit boards
Website Application
Sample 1: When webapp calculates the LED's light color to be warm according to time and place
Sample 2: When webapp calculates the LED's light color to be cold according to time and place
Sleep Mode
Customize Colors
Circadian Hues V2.0 conceals a sophisticated intelligence developed in the V1.0 phase:
a 92% accurate neural network for presence detection and a Moving Average filter that stabilizes sensor input through digital signal processing.
Before DSP
Data Training
Data without human
Data with human
After DSP
Digital Processing
Machine Learning
Rhythm Aligned
Artificial light that behaves naturally. Circadian Hues imperceptibly transitions throughout the day, mirroring the sun’s arc. It provides crisp, focus-enhancing light during work hours and softens to a warm glow in the evening to support the body’s natural clock.
09:00 / Focus Mode High-Kelvin cool light to suppress melatonin and enhance concentration during active hours.
21:00 / Rest Mode Low-Kelvin warm light to simulate sunset, signaling the body to wind down and prepare for sleep.
A dual-state architecture: Calm totem by night, performance instrument by day.
The silicone end-cap button sits at the natural touch point, making it easy to adjust the light without breaking focus.
