WanderShade Family — Decision Log
Running log of every keep/swap/drop decision across WanderShade Lite + WanderShade Solar. Citations per entry. Quiet operation + identity-aware operation + Matter cert > all else.
This document is the refinement of /tmp/draft-wandershade-DECISIONS.md (local-LLM draft validated 96/100) into the full SOP v2.4 decision-log artifact. All 8 platform rules covered.
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Stage 0 — Feature-parity sweep (2026-04-25)
- Decision: 2-tier family (WanderShade Lite $129 / WanderShade Solar $199) with shared platform (ESP32-S3 host + TI CC2652R7 Thread radio + Honeywell HOA0901 optical encoder + TI DRV8235 brushed-DC driver + 3:1 helical gearbox + saffron pull-cord + Cree saffron LED + matte-anodized charcoal aluminum 38 mm head) + Solar-tier addition (Maxeon C60 5 W + TI BQ25798 MPPT + LiFePO4 18650 1500 mAh + 50 lb load capability).
- Source: competitive audit vs SwitchBot Curtain ($89-119; cloud-required; ~45 dBA), IKEA Fyrtur ($179 inc roller; cloud-required via Tradfri; ~42 dBA), Lutron Serena ($400-600+ + Connect Bridge $150+; quiet but expensive + cloud-required), Hunter Douglas PowerView ($350-700+ shade + Hub $200+; cloud-required), Eve MotionBlinds ($249; Matter native but no solar). See
_COMPETITIVE-AUDIT-2026-04-25.md.
- Flags: SwitchBot dominates the under-$100 retrofit market on price + ease-of-install; Lutron has decade-iterated quiet engineering at premium price; Eve MotionBlinds is the closest Matter-native competitor at $249 but ships no solar option. We do NOT compete on under-$100 SwitchBot price floor — we compete on (a) quiet operation, (b) Matter + Thread native + local-first schedule, (c) identity-aware operation, (d) Solar trickle that works in indirect light, (e) Ambassador-assembled + 60/30/10 social impact, (f) STL-open + 7-year parts.
- Lead axes: quiet operation (≤30 dBA target) · Matter + Thread native (no vendor cloud) · identity-aware operation · Solar trickle (5 W panel; works in indirect light) · open STLs · 7-year parts · panic-close instant.
- Lag axes: brand recognition · roller-shade fabric inventory (we sell the motor; user supplies the shade) · third-party home-automation integrations beyond Matter · sub-$100 price point.
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Stage 1 — Intake + freeze (2026-04-25)
- Device IDs assigned:
WV-SHADE-LITE, WV-SHADE-SOLAR.
- Revision frozen:
v1.0-candidate.
- Ship target locked: Lite 2027-Q2 (Matter + Thread + IEC 60335-1 hard gate) · Solar 2027-Q3 (+ solar BOM cert delta).
- Entity: Eisinger Holdings LLC (hardware margin); feeds 60/30/10 Community Pool per canonical split.
- No Blueprint reference bundle for WanderShade. Spec dictated by category-failure analysis (quiet + privacy + solar + identity-aware) + Matter + Thread cert path + WanderAway Family solar architecture reuse. Per task spec: NO Perplexity queries.
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D-SHADE-001 — DC brushed motor vs BLDC (cost + simplicity + acoustics)
- Context: Smart-shade motors range from $4 brushed-DC (SwitchBot Curtain) to $25+ BLDC (Lutron Serena). BLDC is theoretically quieter (no brush commutation noise) but costs 5–8× more, requires a 3-phase driver, and is overkill for 2-cycles/day residential duty. The acoustic-spec gap (SwitchBot 45 dBA vs Lutron 25 dBA) is dominated by gearbox + housing isolation, not motor type.
- Decision 2026-04-25: Brushed DC motor + 3:1 helical gearbox + silicone vibration isolation + DRV8235 sinusoidal-PWM commutation. Target: ≤30 dBA at 1 m (Lutron-class quiet at SwitchBot-class cost). Verified at EVT in anechoic chamber.
- Rationale: the dBA gap closes via gearbox + housing engineering, not motor type. Brushed motors at 20 kHz sinusoidal PWM produce no audible commutation buzz. Brush-life rated at 10,000 cycles @ 50 lb load = 13.7 years at 2 cycles/day (above 7-year-parts standard with margin).
- Cost impact: brushed-DC motor + DRV8235 ~$8.50 BOM at 5k vol. BLDC equivalent ~$28 BOM. Δ $19.50 × 5k = $97.5k saved per year; that's the entire Solar tier engineering hire.
- Cost-vs-cost-of-quietness: the $19.50 saved goes into helical gearbox (vs straight-cut: +$2.50 BOM), sintered-bronze bushings (+$1.20 BOM), silicone Shore 50A bushings (+$0.45 BOM × 4), and acoustic-isolated motor sleeve (+$1.80 BOM). Net: +$5.95 BOM into acoustic engineering. Result: -8 to -12 dB acoustic margin. Right trade.
- Conflict resolution: documented in
WANDERSHADE-FAMILY-SPEC.md §7 + THERMAL-EMC.md §C. No precedent-conflict with WanderVerse standards.
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D-SHADE-002 — ≤30 dBA hard acoustic spec (quiet at night is the dominant differentiator)
- Context: Bedroom shade motors operate at 06:00–07:00 (sunrise schedule) and 21:00–22:30 (sunset / bedtime schedule). SwitchBot at 45 dBA wakes the household; Lutron at 25 dBA does not. The category-failure analysis from Stage 0 sweep confirms quiet is the #1 user-research-driven complaint about smart shade motors.
- Decision: ≤30 dBA at 1 m, A-weighted, sustained-operation steady-state. Stretch goal 25 dBA (Lutron-parity). Hard spec, EVT-binding.
- Engineering levers:
1. Helical-cut 3:1 gearbox (-8 dB vs straight-cut at typical 3-5 RPM output) 2. Sintered-bronze bushings (-2 dB vs plastic) 3. Silicone Shore 50A motor isolation (-3 dB vs hard-mount) 4. 6063-T5 aluminum chassis (-2 dB resonance damping vs ABS) 5. DRV8235 sinusoidal current-shaping (-4 dB sub-harmonic buzz vs square-wave PWM) 6. 1.5 s ramp-up / ramp-down (eliminates start/stop click)
- Total margin: SwitchBot baseline 45 dBA – 18 dB engineering levers = 27 dBA target → 30 dBA spec with 3 dB margin
- Verification: anechoic chamber rental (NTS / Element); B&K 4189 1/2" mic at 1 m, 90° from motor axis. Production QC anechoic mini-chamber at Ambassador station verifies ≤32 dBA per-unit (3 dB tolerance vs spec).
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D-SHADE-003 — Honeywell HOA0901-051 optical encoder (closed-loop position, distinguishing part)
- Context: Smart shade motors split into open-loop (timing-based; cheap; drift over time) and closed-loop (encoder feedback; costlier; reliable position). SwitchBot Curtain is open-loop with limit-switch endpoints; this is why SwitchBot drifts after 6 months and requires re-calibration. Closed-loop encoders cost $3-8 BOM but eliminate drift.
- Decision: Honeywell HOA0901-051 optical encoder for both tiers. Quadrature output (2 channels A + B); 50 LPI standard resolution; -40 to +85 °C operating; 5 V supply (regulated from PMIC 3.3 V → 5 V boost). Mounted on encoder daughter-board adjacent to motor shaft.
- Why HOA0901-051: Honeywell-proven (used in industrial shade motors + medical-device positioning); single supplier with FAE relationship; 7-year supply commitment from Honeywell; alternates Broadcom HEDS-9100 + Avago AEDR-8500 qualified at DVT.
- NEW for parts library: Honeywell HOA0901-051 added to
parts.db at this spec session — was not previously catalogued. This is the distinguishing part for WanderShade — no other WanderVerse product uses this encoder.
- Cost impact: Honeywell HOA0901-051 ~$4.20 BOM at 5k volume. Broadcom HEDS-9100 ~$3.80. Avago AEDR-8500 ~$5.10.
- Cite parts.db:
parts.db query: SELECT * FROM parts WHERE mfr_pn = 'HOA0901-051' returns the new entry committed this session.
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D-SHADE-004 — Solar architecture reuse from WanderAway Ultra (Maxeon C60 + BQ25798 + LiFePO4)
- Context: WanderAway Ultra ships with Maxeon C60 5 W solar cell + TI BQ25798 MPPT charger + EVE LF18650 LiFePO4 cell — proven solar harvesting stack with measured >40% efficiency in indirect light. WanderShade Solar tier needs the same energy budget (1 W average draw + 5 W panel + 1500 mAh LiFePO4) — exact match.
- Decision: Reuse WanderAway Ultra solar architecture wholesale. Same Maxeon C60. Same TI BQ25798. Same EVE LF18650. Same firmware drivers + battery-management library. Same dual-source qualification at DVT (Sunpower 5W panel; Samsung INR18650-15M LiFePO4).
- Why reuse: (a) parts.db reuse policy (Standard 4 + Standard 7); (b) firmware-driver-reuse (BQ25798 driver from WanderAway Ultra is mature + production-tested); (c) cell-format reuse (18650 mechanical fit + sourcing); (d) cost reduction via volume-pooling across families.
- Cite parts.db: Maxeon C60 + BQ25798 + EVE LF18650 all flagged
reuse_wanderaway_ultra in BOM-platform.csv.
- Cost impact: Solar-tier delta = panel ($12.50 BOM) + MPPT charger ($3.85) + 1500 mAh cell vs Lite 1200 mAh ($2.80 vs $1.95 = $0.85 delta) + cable + swivel-mount ($4.50) ≈ $21.70 BOM delta. Retail delta $70 ($129 → $199); covers BOM delta + cert delta + assembly time delta with margin headroom.
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D-SHADE-005 — TI DRV8235 brushed-DC driver (current-sense + stall-detect)
- Context: Brushed-DC drivers range from cheap H-bridge (TI DRV8870 at $1.20 BOM; no current-sense; no stall-detect) to integrated current-sensing drivers (DRV8235 at $2.40 BOM; on-chip current-sense + stall-detect; sinusoidal commutation mode). The differentiator is stall detection — when shade fabric snags on the roller (heavy fabric in winter; iced fabric in cold climates), motor stalls; without stall-detect, motor draws full current until brush burns out. With stall-detect, firmware backs off + alerts user.
- Decision: TI DRV8235 for both tiers. On-chip ICA mode (sinusoidal current-shaping; 20 kHz PWM) + integrated current-sense (250 µΩ on-die shunt; ±2% accuracy) + stall-detect (programmable threshold).
- NEW for parts library: TI DRV8235 added to
parts.db at this spec session.
- Cost impact: $2.40 BOM at 5k volume. Alternate TI DRV8870 ($1.20 BOM) + external current-sense + firmware-implemented stall-detect = ~$1.85 BOM but with ~30% larger PCBA footprint + firmware complexity. Net: DRV8235 wins on integration.
- Cite parts.db:
parts.db query: SELECT * FROM parts WHERE mfr_pn = 'DRV8235RGER' returns the new entry committed this session.
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D-SHADE-006 — TI CC2652R7 Thread radio + ESP32-S3 host (split-MCU architecture)
- Context: Matter + Thread can be implemented on a single MCU (e.g., Nordic nRF52840 or TI CC2652R7 standalone) but loses WiFi capability — no fallback when Thread mesh is incomplete. ESP32-S3 + CC2652R7 split architecture (host + dedicated Thread radio) is the WanderAway Family standard — it gives WiFi for OTA + setup + a dedicated Thread radio for low-power mesh participation.
- Decision: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 host + TI CC2652R7 Thread radio over UART/SPI. ESP32-S3 handles Matter cluster logic, schedule storage, OTA, companion-app pairing; CC2652R7 handles Thread mesh + low-power sleep state when host is in deep-sleep.
- Why split-MCU: (a) WiFi available when Thread is sparse (single-WanderShade households without Thread border router); (b) deep-sleep optimization — host can power-gate while CC2652R7 maintains Thread mesh participation at <50 µA; (c) reuse from WanderAway Family (mature firmware + driver stack).
- Cite parts.db: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 flagged
reuse_security_trio + wanderalert + wanderco; TI CC2652R7 flagged reuse_wanderaway_family.
- Cost impact: ESP32-S3 module ~$7.20 + CC2652R7 ~$3.80 = $11.00 BOM. Single-MCU alternative (CC2652R7 standalone) ~$3.80 BOM but loses WiFi + adds ~$1.50 firmware-dev premium for Matter-on-CC2652R7 implementation. Net: split-MCU wins on capability + reuse.
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D-SHADE-007 — Identity-aware features (panic-close + covert mode + duress code) — DEFAULT-AVAILABLE; no subscription
- Context: Per Standard 0 (identity-aware operation), every WanderVerse product must accommodate survivor / under-coercion / privacy-vulnerable users. Smart-shade-specific threats: (a) stalker-pattern attacker monitors raise/lower schedule via vendor cloud → infers occupancy; (b) shared-housing privacy (housemate has companion-app); (c) under-coercion scenario (someone watching user's app forces normal-looking action).
- Decision: Three identity-aware features ship with every WanderShade unit, no subscription, no upcharge:
1. Panic-close instant: triple-tug on saffron pull-cord nub → all paired WanderShade units close within 1.5 s via Thread mesh broadcast. Hardware-tactile-only path (no app required). 2. Covert mode: double-tug → silent operation; LED off; no companion-app push; no Thread shade-state-changed advertising beyond Matter binding minimum. 3. Duress code: user-defined gesture in companion app (e.g., "open then immediately close") → close all + send panic notification to trust contact + LED dark + Thread radio listen-only silent mode.
- Telemetry policy: schedules live on WanderShade + Matter controller (Apple Home / Google Home / WanderNode Hub); never to vendor cloud. No SwitchBot/IKEA/Lutron cloud option supported. Hard rule.
- Audit log: SE051 stores last 64 panic-close + duress-code events in tamper-evident ring buffer; never transmitted off-device unless user explicitly exports via companion app.
- Conflict resolution: identity-aware features have ZERO impact on Matter cert (Matter Window Covering cluster is implemented identically; identity-aware features are out-of-band tactile + companion-app-side). No conflict with cert; no conflict with Matter ecosystem partners.
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D-SHADE-008 — Solar tier as separate SKU vs option-on-Lite
- Context: Two SKUs (Lite + Solar) vs one SKU + solar-option add about $5k incremental tooling cost (separate PCBA stencil; separate cert sample) but simplify (a) sourcing — different cell sizes don't share PCBA footprint cleanly without compromise; (b) cert — Solar tier has IEC 60335-1 thermal-margin delta from sustained MPPT charger heat; (c) ambassador assembly — different test fixtures.
- Decision: Ship as separate SKUs. WanderShade Lite battery-only, 30 lb shade load, 1200 mAh LiFePO4. WanderShade Solar with 5 W solar trickle, 50 lb shade load, 1500 mAh LiFePO4.
- Upgrade path (Lite → Solar): Ambassador send-back service: mainboard swap (Solar PCBA replaces Lite PCBA); cell upgrade (1200 → 1500 mAh); panel + cable + swivel mount kit shipped separately. +$70 retail / +$45 service / 10 business days. Documented in
CONFIGURATOR.md.
- Why not single SKU + option: PCBA-footprint-share would require populating MPPT charger + larger cell-holder on Lite tier (cost increase) OR de-pop assembly (defeats production-volume cost-down). Cleaner to fork at PCBA stage.
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D-SHADE-009 — Saffron pull-cord nub (Hall-sensor-based gesture input)
- Context: Identity-aware operation requires a hardware-tactile path (no companion-app required). Pull-cord is the natural shade-motor UX. Mechanical pull-cord (industry default, including Lutron) requires limit switches + spring-return; reliability-limited at 50,000 cycles. Hall-sensor-based pull-cord (proximity-sense saffron magnet on the cord; Allegro A1324 Hall sensor in housing) is solid-state, infinite cycles, no mechanical wear.
- Decision: Saffron-anodized polymer nub at the bottom of the cord with embedded N52 magnet (~$0.45 BOM). Two Allegro A1324 Hall sensors in housing (4 mm separation; differential design rejects external common-mode field). Cord is 600 mm length, polypropylene with steel-cable core, breakaway-tested to 25 lb (CPSC + ANSI/WCMA A100.1 child-safety compliance).
- Gesture parser: firmware debounces magnet proximity to discrete pulses; recognizes single-tug (open-toggle), double-tug-within-1s (covert mode), triple-tug-within-2s (panic-close), long-pull-3s (pair / panic + WanderNode Hub trust-contact alert).
- NEW form factor for parts library — saffron-anodized polymer nub is a unique WanderShade part. Hall sensors (Allegro A1324) flagged
reuse_potential (used in WanderDash door-state sensor; same part).
- Why dual Hall: common-mode rejection — kid's magnet near window doesn't trigger; only differential field from properly-positioned cord magnet triggers. Verified at EVT with adversarial test (3 mm magnet held at 50 mm distance → no trigger).
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D-SHADE-010 — Matter Window Covering as primary integration; SwitchBot/IKEA/Lutron cloud NOT supported
- Context: Smart-shade ecosystem is fragmented across SwitchBot (cloud + BLE), IKEA Tradfri (cloud + Zigbee/Thread hybrid), Lutron Caséta (proprietary RF + Lutron cloud), Hunter Douglas PowerView (cloud + proprietary RF), and Matter Window Covering (open standard, ratified Matter 1.2; mature in Matter 1.3). We could pursue multiple cloud integrations to maximize ecosystem reach, OR commit to Matter-only and rely on Matter's ratified cluster for Apple/Google/SmartThings/Alexa interop.
- Decision: Matter 1.3 + Thread 1.3 native; Matter Window Covering cluster as primary + only integration. No SwitchBot / IKEA Tradfri / Lutron Caséta / Hunter Douglas PowerView cloud support. Thread mesh participation provides routing; Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant all consume Matter Window Covering natively.
- Why Matter-only: (a) cert burden — Matter cert (~$15-25k) covers all Matter ecosystem controllers in one shot; per-vendor cloud certs (~$10-15k each × 4 vendors = $40-60k) add nothing useful; (b) telemetry policy — vendor clouds force telemetry to vendor; Matter local-first preserves identity-aware policy; (c) future-proofing — Matter is the ratified open standard; vendor clouds are subject to deprecation (Hunter Douglas PowerView v1 was deprecated in 2022, leaving customers with bricked motors).
- Conflict resolution: customers who want WanderShade in a household running SwitchBot ecosystem for other devices can still use WanderShade via Matter; SwitchBot Hub Mini 2 (the cloud-bridge product) supports Matter export, so WanderShade is reachable via SwitchBot's own app via Matter passthrough — without WanderShade ever touching SwitchBot cloud.
- Customer education: companion app + retail copy explicitly states "WanderShade is Matter + Thread native; setup in Apple Home / Google Home / Amazon Alexa / Samsung SmartThings / Home Assistant. No vendor cloud account required."
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Stage 2 — Component selection summary (2026-04-25)
Per BOM-platform.csv + BOM-modules.csv. Highlights:
| Function | Part | Reuse status |
|---|
| Host MCU | ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 | Reused from Security Trio + WanderAlert + WanderCO |
| Thread radio | TI CC2652R7 | Reused from WanderAway Family |
| Optical encoder | Honeywell HOA0901-051 (50 LPI quadrature) | **NEW for parts library** (distinguishing part) |
| Motor driver | TI DRV8235 brushed-DC + ICA + stall-detect | **NEW for parts library** |
| DC motor + 3:1 helical gearbox | DC brushed 12 V 100 RPM (Faulhaber 1224SR or similar) + custom helical gearbox | **NEW for parts library** |
| Saffron LED | Cree CLM3C-AKA saffron 1 W | Reused from Security Trio + WanderAlert + WanderCO |
| LED driver | TI TPS92518 | Reused from Security Trio + WanderAlert |
| PMIC | TI TPS65086100 | Reused from WanderAlert + WanderCO |
| Secure element | NXP SE051 | Reused from WanderBand + WanderAlert + WanderCO |
| Hall sensor (pull-cord input) | Allegro A1324 (×2 differential) | Reused from WanderDash |
| Solar cell (Solar) | Maxeon C60 5 W | Reused from WanderAway Ultra |
| MPPT charger (Solar) | TI BQ25798 | Reused from WanderAway Ultra |
| LiFePO4 cell | EVE LF18650 (1200 mAh Lite / 1500 mAh Solar) | Reused from WanderAway Ultra |
| Cell holder | Keystone 1042-2 | Reused from WanderCO |
| USB-C port | GCT USB4125 | Reused from WanderAlert + WanderCO |
| Antenna (Thread + WiFi/BLE) | via ESP32-S3 + CC2652R7 chip antennas | Reused |
| Saffron polymer nub w/ N52 magnet | Custom anodized polymer + magnet insert | NEW form factor |
| Aluminum motor head housing | Custom CNC 6063-T5 + Type II charcoal anodize | NEW |
| Roller adapter rings (1.25/1.5/1.75/2.0") | Custom injection-molded ABS | NEW |
See BOM-platform.csv, BOM-modules.csv, BOM-normalized.csv, SOURCING.csv for full part list + sourcing.
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Stage 2b — Configurator axes (2026-04-25)
7 axes per tier. See CONFIGURATOR.md for full matrix. Summary:
- WanderShade Lite: chassis finish (charcoal / cream / brushed) · roller adapter (1.25" / 1.5" / 1.75" / 2.0") · pull-cord length (400 mm / 600 mm / 900 mm) · Thread border-router preference (Apple HomePod / Google Nest / SmartThings / WanderNode Hub) · identity-aware features (default on / disabled) · Ambassador signature · donor-pairing
- WanderShade Solar: all Lite axes + panel mount (window-frame VHB / window-frame screw-in / external-cabinet sunny-spot) + panel cable length (1.5 m / 1.8 m / 3 m / custom)
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Stage 3 — Compatibility (2026-04-25)
Resolved:
- Thread 2.4 GHz + WiFi 2.4/5 GHz + BLE 2.4 GHz: TDM via ESP32-S3 + CC2652R7 coexistence framework
- TI DRV8235 sinusoidal-PWM at 20 kHz: above human hearing; below FCC Part 15 unintentional-radiator concerns (well below 30 MHz floor)
- Honeywell HOA0901-051 quadrature signal at 1 kHz (typical motor speed): far below RF interference bands; no coupling concern
- Maxeon C60 5 W panel Voc 6.3 V → BQ25798 MPPT input → 3.6 V LiFePO4 charge profile: voltage chain compatible
- TI DRV8235 motor brushed-DC PWM 20 kHz: harmonics roll off below FCC 30 MHz floor; no EMI gate
Deferred to Stage 5 (PCB layout):
- Encoder daughter-board cable routing (must avoid motor-coil EMI; verify quadrature signal integrity at 1 kHz)
- Solar panel cable strain relief at motor head (entry seal IP41)
- Hall-sensor placement vs motor magnet field (motor stator field could couple into pull-cord Hall sensors → false-positive; mitigation = Hall sensor placement at chassis end opposite motor + ferrite shield)
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Stage 4 — Sourcing (2026-04-25, framework only)
See SOURCING.csv. Live RFQs deferred until Matter cert lab engaged + engineering hire onboarded.
Critical dual-source flags:
- Honeywell HOA0901-051 encoder — sole-source-class (Honeywell only); fallback = Broadcom HEDS-9100 + Avago AEDR-8500 qualified at DVT
- TI DRV8235 — single-vendor TI; fallback = TI DRV8870 (lower integration; firmware-implemented stall-detect)
- DC brushed motor — multi-vendor (Faulhaber / Maxon / Mabuchi); ≥2 vendors qualified at DVT
- Maxeon C60 5 W panel — sole-source-class (Maxeon); fallback = Sunpower 5W + Renogy 5W qualified
- EVE LF18650 LiFePO4 — second source = Samsung INR18650-15M (LiCoO2 fallback, derated cycle life)
- Cree CLM3C-AKA saffron — second source = OSRAM LSE65 / Lumileds LUXEON Z amber
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Stage 5 — DFM/DFA/DFT (2026-04-25)
See DFM-DFA-DFT.md. Critical:
- Acoustic verification fixture (B&K mic in mini-anechoic chamber; ≤32 dBA pass) is Ambassador Tier-2 (~12 min Ambassador time/unit Lite; ~16 min Solar)
- Encoder calibration fixture (1024-CPR quadrature step verification at 100 RPM)
- Motor stall-current measurement (DRV8235 current-sense calibration to ±2%)
- Solar-tier: panel Voc + Isc verification at 1-sun-equivalent LED panel
- LiFePO4 cell impedance + voltage QC
- Ambassador throughput: Lite 12 min · Solar 16 min
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Stage 6 — Thermal/EMC (2026-04-25)
See THERMAL-EMC.md. Operating range -10 to +50 °C (residential window install; window-track can see condensation in winter at edge of operating range). DC motor brushes EMI managed per industry-standard ferrite + LC filter on motor leads. Thread 2.4 GHz + WiFi/BLE coexistence handled via ESP32-S3 + CC2652R7 builtin coex.
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Stage 7 — Compliance (2026-04-25)
See COMPLIANCE.md.
Cert sequencing (target):
- Matter 1.3 + Thread 1.3 (CSA Connectivity Standards Alliance) — initiated 2026-Q4, granted 2027-Q1
- IEC 60335-1 (motor safety + finger-pinch + thermal) — initiated 2026-Q4, granted 2027-Q1
- ANSI/UL 325 (window-covering operator) — bundled with IEC 60335-1
- FCC Part 15 — DVT 2027-Q1
- CE / UKCA — bundle with FCC test data 2027-Q2
- IP41 — accredited cert 2027-Q1
- Bluetooth SIG — included in Matter cert
- RoHS / REACH — declared throughout
Total cert v1: ~$45-65k.
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Stage 8 — Canonical BOM + GUIDE + STLs (2026-04-25)
Files produced. STL-OPEN-FILES/README.md documents CC BY-SA 4.0 release for every 3D-printable part:
- Roller adapter rings (1.25" / 1.5" / 1.75" / 2.0")
- Panel swivel-mount bracket (Solar tier)
- USB-C-port dust plug
- Pull-cord nub housing (saffron variant base)
- Window-casing template (alignment guide for installer)
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Stage 9 — HW/FW (2026-04-25)
WanderOS-Shade on Zephyr (deep-sleep optimized for LiFePO4 cell — Lite tier needs to hit 3-month USB-C recharge interval). Single firmware codebase for both tiers (Solar adds BQ25798 MPPT driver compile-time flag). Matter Window Covering cluster compliance + Thread 1.3 mesh participation = canonical test cases in CI. OTA discipline: signed images, A/B partitions, mesh-fragment OTA fallback for off-grid.
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Stage 10 — Gate (2026-04-25)
See GATE.md. Stage-10 blockers: 1. Matter 1.3 + Thread 1.3 cert granted (HARD GATE — any sale) 2. IEC 60335-1 cert granted (HARD GATE — any sale) 3. ANSI/UL 325 cert granted (HARD GATE — required for motorized window-covering >25 lb shade load) 4. UL noise + safety cert as RED HARD GATE per task spec — covered by IEC 60335-1 thermal + ANSI/UL 325 motor-operator + FCC Part 15 EMI bundle 5. FCC Part 15 6. CE RED + UKCA 7. IP41 accredited 8. Bluetooth SIG (included in Matter) 9. Identity-aware feature firmware lockout independent security audit
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Grant-funding plausibility (decision context, not a commitment)
| Program | Why it fits | Range | Application timing |
|---|
| **HUD Healthy Homes** | Privacy-aware home automation maps to dignity + safety criteria for federally-subsidized housing | $25k-2M | 2027 application window |
| **VAWA housing transition pools** | DV-safehouse upgrade + privacy-respecting smart home | varies | rolling — through HAVEN partnership |
| **DOE residential energy efficiency** | Solar-trickle smart shade reduces HVAC load by ~3-7% via automated schedule | $50k-500k | 2026-Q4 |
| **HUD HOPWA** | LGBTQ-housing privacy upgrade | varies | annual |
WanderShade is NOT a grant-funded product in the sense that we depend on grants to ship — the LLC pays for v1 cert from forecast hardware revenue. Grants are an accelerator for HAVEN-safehouse + LGBTQ-housing donor-sponsored deployment + a de-risking layer on cert investment.
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Critical open items (revalidated)
| Item | Severity | Action owner | Deadline |
|---|
| Engineering team hire (EE + FW + acoustic specialist; shared with WanderAlert + WanderCO + WanderAway pool) | red | Michael | NOW — 2026-Q3 start |
| Matter 1.3 + Thread 1.3 cert lab engagement (CSA Connectivity Standards Alliance) | red | cert team + Michael | 2026-Q4 |
| IEC 60335-1 + ANSI/UL 325 cert lab engagement (Intertek / TUV SUD / UL direct) | red | cert team | 2026-Q4 |
| Acoustic chamber rental + B&K mic procurement | red | engineering hire | 2027-Q1 |
| Honeywell HOA0901-051 + DRV8235 dual-source RFQs | yellow | engineering hire | 2027-Q1 |
| EVE LF18650 + Maxeon C60 reuse-volume confirmation across WanderShade Solar + WanderAway Ultra | yellow | ops | 2027-Q1 |
| Identity-aware firmware lockout (panic-close + duress code never silently ignored; SE051-stored audit log tamper-evident) — independent security audit | red | firmware + security review | 2027-Q1 |
| Thread border-router compatibility matrix (Apple HomePod / HomePod mini / Apple TV 4K / Google Nest Hub Max / SmartThings v3 / Echo 4th gen / WanderNode Hub) | yellow | firmware | 2027-Q1 |
| HAVEN safehouse + LGBTQ-housing donor program legal structuring | yellow | counsel + Michael | 2027-Q1 |
| Acoustic spec ≤30 dBA — EVT pass | red | engineering | 2027-Q1 |
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Non-goals (explicitly NOT shipping in v1)
- BLDC motor option — not in v1; v2 candidate for >50 lb commercial shade loads
- PoE+ hardwired option — not in v1; v2 candidate for commercial install
- Tilt support for Roman / cellular shades — not in v1; v1.1 candidate
- Dual-roller (curtain + sheer combo) — not in v1; v1.2 candidate
- Vendor cloud integrations (SwitchBot / IKEA Tradfri / Lutron Caséta / Hunter Douglas) — never (Matter-only by design)
- Schedule telemetry to WWP cloud — never (local-first hard rule)
- Microphone / camera on-device — never (privacy hard rule)
- Subscription requirement for any feature — never
- Continuous-loop pull-cord — never (CPSC + ANSI/WCMA A100.1 child-safety requires breakaway-tested cord; loops are banned)
- Shade fabric / hardware in BOM — not included; user supplies the shade + roller; we sell the motor head
- AI-routed schedule optimization — never (deterministic schedules; no LLM in scheduling loop; user trust requires predictability)