CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION TO HOME AUTOMATION
1.1. INTRODUCTION
Home Automation is a combination of 2 different words having their own wide meanings- Home + Automation. To know clearly about the topic we must have the idea of both.
H ome is a dwelling-place used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for an individual, family, household or several families in a tribe. It is often a house, apartment, or other building, or alternatively a mobile home, houseboat, yurt or any other portable shelter. Larger groups may live in a nursing home, children's home, convent or any similar institution. A homestead also includes agricultural land and facilities for domesticated animals. Where more secure dwellings are not available, people may live in the informal and sometimes illegal shacks found in slums and shanty towns. More generally, "home" may be considered to be a geographic area, such as a town, village, suburb, city, or country. In short a home is generally the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
Automation- Automation or automatic control is the use of various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching in telephone networks, steering and stabilization of ships, aircraft and other applications with minimal or reduced human intervention. Some processes have been completely automated.
The biggest benefit of automation is that it saves labor; however, it is also used to save energy and materials and to improve quality, accuracy and precision. The term automation, inspired by the earlier word automatic (coming from automaton), was not widely used before 1947, when General Motors established the automation department. It was during this time that industry was rapidly adopting feedback controllers, which were introduced in the 1930s. Automation has been achieved by various means including mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic and computers, usually in combination. Complicated systems, such as modern factories, airplanes and ships typically use all these combined techniques.
Figure 1.2. An automated home view
Concluding both the informations we get the definition of Home automation. Home automation is the residential extension of building automation. It is the automation of the home, housework or household activity. Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security. Home automation for the elderly and disabled can provide increased quality of life for persons who might otherwise require care givers or institutional care.
The popularity of home automation has been increasing greatly in recent years due to much higher affordability and simplicity through smartphone and tablet connectivity. The concept of the "Internet of Things" has tied in closely with the popularization of home automation. A home automation system integrates electrical devices in a house with each other. The techniques employed in home automation include those in building automation as well as the control of domestic activities, such as home entertainment systems, houseplant and yard watering, pet feeding, changing the ambiance "scenes" for different events (such as dinners or parties), and the use of domestic robots. Devices may be connected through a home network to allow control by a personal computer, and may allow remote access from the internet. Through the integration of information technologies with the home environment, systems and appliances can communicate in an integrated manner which results in convenience, energy efficiency, and safety benefits.
1.2. WHY HOME AUTOMATION??
As we personally believe in the quote-
WITHOUT IMPLEMENTATION THERE IS NO USE OF EDUCATION
Its so necessary to know the benefits of this technology so that we can make our interest in learning it.
Eight Reasons to Automate Your Home
Youve heard about home automation and are wondering what all the fuss is about? If youre like most people, you dont do things without a good reason. Just why should you automate your home? Here are 8 good reasons:
1. Make tasks more convenient Many tasks that are repetitive in nature can be accomplished automatically or with fewer steps using home automation. Instead of turning off or dimming four different lights when you want to watch a movie, home automation allows you to accomplish this task with one button?
2. Save money on utilities Utilities can amount to several hundred dollars per month. Home automation can turn off lights or lower the thermostat automatically when you arent using them and easily lower your utility bills by 10% to 25%.
3. Increased home safety Many accidents happen in the home because of poor lighting. Home automation can automatically turn lights on in closets, stairways, and other dark places when you enter and decrease the chance of accidentally tripping or running into things.
4. Home security Although home security is a priority for everyone, high installation cost or monthly monitoring charges make security systems cost prohibitive for many homeowners. Home automation provides an inexpensive solution to home security.
5. Good for the environment In a time when we are all becoming more environmentally aware, home automation provides a good solution to help preserve our natural resources. Home automation products can reduce power consumption and automatically turn off lights and appliances when they arent in use.
6. Peace of mind Never again worry about your home while youre away. Using home video cameras and an Internet connection, you can check on the status of your home or kids from anywhere in the world using a PC or web-enabled phone.
7. Learning experience for children Technology is here to stay and the more your children learn about upcoming technology the better prepared they are for the future. Turn your home into a classroom, as your home automation projects become a learning experience for your children.
8. Something the whole family can enjoy A family that plays together, stays together. Although home automation is all of the above, most of all its a lot of fun for the entire family. You will find home automation will bring the family closer together as everyone learns about the technologys capabilities together.
figure 1.3. Smart Home Applications\\
CHAPTER-2
THEME OF SMART HOME
2.1. BACKGROUND
Home Automation is one of the latest demanding technology in the market. Today we are living a very busy life. Everybody work for several hours to earn money that can fulfill the demands of their family and nourish them. But after working with several problems at office, what does a person want?
A comfortable life at home. But as you know that in cities its so hard because everybody is busy in himself/ herself .They have no time to think of others. So how you can think that you get any assistance from someone at home like suppose when you are returning from your office and reach in front of your home with your car. Just think that by just touching your android phone your garage door automatically opened and you parked your car there and after locking the garage when you reach in front of your main door an automatic retina scanner and fingerprint scanner scan your biometric data and allow you to access the home facilities. When you get into your home an infrared sensor automatically detects your presence and switch on the lights of the home or the certain places of home where you go.
