Everything about Domotic totally explained
Home automation (also called
domotics) is a field within
building automation, specializing in the specific
automation requirements of private
homes and in the application of automation techniques for the comfort and security of its residents. Although many techniques used in building automation (such as light and climate control, control of doors and window shutters, security and surveillance systems, etc.) are also used in home automation, additional functions in home automation can include the control of
multi-media home entertainment systems, automatic
plant watering and pet feeding, automatic scenes for dinners and parties, and a more user-friendly
control interface.
When home automation is installed during construction of a new home, usually control wires are added before the interior walls are installed. These control wires run to a controller, which will then control the environment.
Standards and bridges
Specific domotic standards include
INSTEON,
X10,
PLC BUS,
KNX (standard),
System Box,
LonWorks,
C-Bus,
Universal powerline bus (UPB),
UPnP,
ZigBee and
Z-Wave that will allow for control of most applications. Some standards use communication and control wiring, some embed signals in the
powerline, some use
radio frequency (RF) signals, and some use a combination of several methods. Control wiring is hardest to retrofit into an existing house. Some appliances include
USB that's used to control it and connect it to a domotics network. Bridges translate information from one standard to another (eg. from
X10 to
European Installation Bus).
Effects
In extreme installations, rooms can sense not only the presence of a person but know who that person is and perhaps set appropriate lighting, temperature and music/TV taking into account day of week, time of day, and other factors.
Other automated tasks may include setting the
air conditioning to an
energy saving setting when the house is unoccupied, and restoring the normal setting when an occupant is about to return. More sophisticated systems can maintain an
inventory of products, recording their usage through an
RFID tag, and prepare a shopping list or even automatically order replacements.
Some practical implementations of home automation are for example when an alarm detects a fire or smoke condition, then all lights in the house will blink to alert occupants. If the house is equipped with a
home theater, a home automation system can shut down all audio and video components to alert the user to a possible fire or a burglar.
System
The elements of a domotics system are:
Architecture
From the point of view of where the intelligence of the domotic system resides, there are three different architectures:
Centralized Architecture: a centralized controller receives information of multiple sensors and, once processed, generates the opportune orders for the actuators.
Distributed Architecture: all the intelligence of the system is distributed by all the modules that are
sensors or
actuators. Usually it's typical of the systems of wiring in
bus.
Mixed Architecture: systems with decentralized architecture as far as which they've several small devices able to acquire and to process the information of multiple
sensors and to transmit them to the rest of devices distributed by the house.
Interconnection
By wire:
xDSL
optical fiber
cable (coaxial and twisted pair)
powerline
Cresnet
Wireless:
radio frequency, including:
: Wi-Fi
: GPRS and UMTS
: Bluetooth
: DECT
: ZigBee
: Z-Wave
: EnOcean
infrared
: Consumer_IR
Both
Insteon
Classifications of Domestic Net Technologies
Device interconnection:
Control and automation nets:
Data nets:
Tasks
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) solutions include temperature and humidity control (climotics).
This category also typically includes control of exhaust and ceiling fans.
Lighting
Lighting control systems involves aspects related to controlling electric lights.
Extinguished general of all the lights of the house
Automation of switched off / ignition in every point of light
Regulation of the illumination according to the level of ambient luminosity.
Natural lighting
Natural lighting control involves controlling window shades, LCD shades, draperies and awnings. Recent advances include use of RF technology to avoid wiring to switches and integration with third party home automation systems for centralized control.
Audio
This category includes audio switching and distribution. Audio switching determines the selection of an audio source. Audio distribution allows an audio source to be heard in one or more rooms. This feature is often referred to as 'multi-zone' audio.
Video
This includes video switching and distribution, allowing a video source to be viewed on multiple TVs. This feature is often referred to as 'multi-zone' video.
Integration of the intercom to the telephone, or of the video door entry system to the television set.
Security
Control and integration of security systems.
This category also includes control and distribution of security cameras (see surveillance).
Detection of possible intrusion
- sensors of detection of movement
- sensors of magnetic contact of door/window
- sensors of glass breaking
Simulation of presence.
Detection of fire, gas leaks, water leaks (see fire alarm and gas alarm)
Medical alert. Teleassistance.
Precise and safe closing of blinds.
Intercoms
An intercom system allows communication via a microphone and loud speaker between multiple rooms.
Ubiquity in the external control as much internal, remote control from the Internet, PC, wireless controls (p.ej. PDA with WiFi), electrical equipment.
Transmission of alarms.
Intercommunications.
Robotics
Control of home robots, using if necessary domotic electric beacon.
Home robot communication (for example using WiFi) with the domotic network and other home robots.
Other systems
Using special hardware, almost any device can be monitored and controlled automatically or remotely.
Including:
Coffee pot
Garage door(s)
Pet feeding and watering
Plant watering
Pool pump(s) and heater, Hot tub and Spa
Sump Pump (need info and links)
Organizations
CENELEC
MIT AgeLab
SIMO TCI
DLNA
InsteonFurther Information
Get more info on 'Domotic'.
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