DreamWaker

Hardware Prototype
Hardware Prototype
Software Prototype
Electrical Components

We started with a simple question: why do mornings feel like emergencies?

Every day, millions wake up to alarms that jolt the body into a stress state. Research shows this can spike blood pressure by up to 76%, disrupt circadian alignment, and cause sleep inertia — the grogginess that lingers for hours. We wanted to create a system that respects natural biology, making mornings calmer, healthier, and more human.

Through our exploration, we learned about:

Sleep science: circadian rhythms, the role of core body temperature, and the physiology of wake-up transitions.
Human-centered design: balancing comfort, safety, and affordability in a product meant for daily use.
Systems thinking: integrating hardware, sensors, and software into a seamless user experience.
Hardware: linear actuators for the incline mechanism, heating pads for gradual warmth, temperature sensors, and a microcontroller for coordination.
Software: a React-based mobile app with scheduling, incline/temperature control, and live monitoring.
Integration: Bluetooth communication between the app and control board, with safety features (overheat cutoff, max incline limits).

Challenges that we face along the way includes:

Hardware constraints: ensuring quiet, safe motors and reliable heating without excessive power draw.
Compatibility: designing an attachment that works with any bed, not just one model.