The rate at which more people are adopting to the home automation options is high. Most of the home automation system employ the movement functions of quality 12v electric linear actuators. This is relative to the fact that most of the homes now have access to stable and reliable internet. This is an approach that provides the users more comfort in their homes. When the system is implemented in commercial buildings, it increases the element of control for the various functions and features of the building. These are features that include, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and heating among others. This also ensures that that is an element of cost reduction relative to the level of efficiency associated with optimal control of the various features.
When considering the type of automation to be implemented in a building, there are two main options that is the wired one and the wireless option. With the wired option this is a setup that is prepared before the building is constructed and thus is integral to the construction of the building in question. However, if the system is to be implemented after the building is constructed, the system can be wirelessly connected.
This is a system that offers a wide range of options compared to the wired one that came before it.
There are a number of benefits and features that are associated with the home automation systems. One of the benefits is associated with the reduced costs of installation. This is relative to the fact that, there is no need for cables in the system. The layout that is common in the wired system is reduced as there are no wires to be used. The system also offers the users easy deployment options, installation and the coverage. Given that there are wires, the wireless nodes can be paced in places that wires cannot be feasible to use such a gardens. The other benefit is associated with the fact that the system offers scalability and ease of extension. In the case of spaces that are aesthetically preserved, the wireless system offers a good option. This is relative to the fact that there are no wires laid out across the walls or the floors for coverage. In the recent past, there has been a rise in the use of the wireless devices. With the wireless systems, these devices can easily be integrated into the system and take advantage of their mobility while connected.
The problem definition that is associated with home automation system is that, there are challenges such as the high cost of ownership, poor manageability, difficulty of achieving security and issues with inflexibility. As such this research tries to establish the best design that is also cheap, open source and flexible enough to be implemented in a home. Using a server and hardware interface modules the system will be based on a Wi-Fi connection. The server will be configured to allow for more than one module interface. The server will simply be normal PC with a built-in Wi-Fi card, which will act as a web server. The hardware interface module will control the alarms along with the actuators.
Some of the main functions that the system will control include alarms for motion detection, temperature, door status, video monitoring, light levels, humidity and smoke. Some of the main appliances that the system will control include, window shutdown, door locks, lights and siren among others. To control all the appliances and functions the main hardware layout will include PCBs, Microprocessors, Wi-Fi shield, 3 input alarms and output actuators PCB.