Automation Technologies and Trends for Smarter Homes and Buildings

1. Automation Technologies and Trends for Smarter Homes and Buildings Day 4 - Detailed Look at Wireless Technology for Automation and Control 5/23/2013 By Jon Gabay

2. Recap Yesterday We Learned: • Both wired and wireless networks can share some of the same topologies • The wireless mesh like the wired Ethernet can dynamically reroute communications paths if the network changes. • Central control is the legacy and defacto way of structuring our networks but is giving way to distributed control structures. • Autonomy as a fallback can keep critical services alive if a controller is unavailable. • With automation networks, especially wireless, key and needed functions are evolving like routers, controllers, end point devices, storage functions, backup functions, etc. • Intelligence is moving into structures. 2 2

3. ISM Changes the Game 3 Wireless technology is not new but is steadily making inroads into the living structures, work structures, and buildings everywhere. Going forward, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands allow the smallest components and systems as well as SOC transceivers and micros. PCB antennas are feasible and effective at these higher frequencies and radiation patterns provide useful ranges and performances.

4. Globally and Locally 4 2.4 and 5 GHz have proven themselves to the point where we all depend on them now. Our 3G and 4G cell phones use these frequencies. So do our DECT wireless home phones. Because of direct sequenced and frequency hopping spread spectrum technology, several devices in near proximity can share the bands and operate simultaneously. Because FCC grants higher transmit powers to spread spectrum devices, they have longer reaches and more immunity to noise and interference compared to narrow band FM.

5. Personal Area Networks 5 The technology is getting more personal. We use Bluetooth for personal audio. We use WiFi for home and local data interconnect. Even devices we wear will use wireless. Expect to see more personal electronics, welcome to the machine.

6. Battles Rage 6 Progress doesn’t stand still. Nothing is carved in stone. Battles are waging for the home and smart building wireless automation networks. Functionality is blurring, tablets can do what laptops used to and smart phones are invading that territory. Personal projectors, voice processors, and gesture monitors, medical devices will be part of the personal electronics we are tethered to.

7. Components Don’t Care 7 Because of the high volumes and widespread use of wireless technology, chip and component makers offer full families of active and passive devices. Some support narrow uses like WiFi only or Bluetooth only, but many are generic. This gives designers a full bag of tricks to draw from including software stacks, transceiver chips, duplexers, diplexers, antennas, reference designs, eval boards, and development kits. As a result, wireless technology is affordable and readily available to everyone.

8. A New Wave is Coming 8 Major manufacturers like Honeywell, GE, OSRAM, Carrier, Bosch, and others are already introducing products. More will follow as the benefits of integrated environmental, energy, comfort, and luxury systems take hold. We already see fear based security adds.

9. Building Friendly 9 With lower costs, smaller sizes, and lower power demands, wireless automation node are the easiest technology to use to retrofit an existing structure. No (or fewer) wires, drilled holes, snaking of cables, connectors, conduits, and expensive installation labor is typically required. Instead, attach, configure, test, and go.

10. In a Jam 10 But, wireless technology is more vulnerable to hacking, mischief, and jamming. Any spark puts out noise across the band. Any stuck-on transmitter can block, interfere, or slow down network traffic. Any sufficiently powerful computer can ease-drop and steal personal ID information.

11. Privacy and Security 11 Encryption can help protect sensitive data, but don’t expect privacy. Wireless is so pervasive, and getting more-so. UHF based RFID Gen. II will ID us all from a long way off. Up to 50 readers in a 1 sq KM each putting out almost 5 Watts.

12. Safety – The Big Unknown 12 All studies show that RF energy is not as safe as we want it to be. The effects on the human brain definitely link to higher cancer rates. No where are we safe anymore. Even asleep, the pineal gland in the brain detects rf and diminishes Melatonin levels. Device makers all bury warnings in their documentations. It will get worse. There is no place to go unless you are a Faraday Cage.

13. A look at the Contenders But, 3G and 4G connections are ideal for access point connectivity. 13 3G and 4G Not feasible for home and building automation networks as primary medium. • Each node is monthly cost • Power levels drain batteries too fast • Chipsets are not available to < 1 million device users • Overkill

14. We all know WiFi Pro’s • Well understood and supported • Mature chip sets/ref designs • Widely deployed • Low cost • High data rates • IP format eases cloud connectivity Con’s • High traffic competition • Higher power needs • Longer setup/discovery times • Higher cost to smaller developers • Protocol stack requires higher performance processor 14 WiFi 802.11 is everywhere and odds are you use it now. It is the wireless extension to the Ethernet networking we have been using for years.

15. 6LoWPAN Pro’s • Working group IETF • Supported by several chips/mfgs • Simpler more focused stack • Lower potential embedded cost • Medium data rates • IP format eases cloud connectivity Con’s • Still evolving • Higher power needs • Longer setup/discovery times • Higher cost to smaller developers • Protocol stack requires higher performance processor 15 IPV6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Network 6LoWPAN is designed for the ‘Internet of Things’ and like WiFi can, uses IPV6 as the protocol. This allows nodes and devices to transparently pass through access point to get world wide connectivity.

16. ZigBee – 802.15.4 It uses functional nodes such as coordinators, routers, and end point devices to dynamically create and maintain routing tables for multi-path connectivity. 16 ZigBee is an IEEE standardized set of high level protocols for personal area networks that support intricate Mesh style connected networks. It is designed to be small sized and low power with medium speed data rates (up to around 250 Kbits/Sec) and is directly targeted toward consumer electronics.

17. ZigBee Support Pro’s • Well supported IEEE standard • Supported by several chips/mfgs • Fairly low cost • Medium data rates • Mesh network repairs itself • Well suited for apartments and neighborhood settings Con’s • Not universally know and deployed • Sophisticated stack may require higher end processor. • Each zone needs coordinator and possibly router as well as end devices. • Interoperability certifications still need to be addressed • Will need dual protocol gateway or access point for cloud connectivity. 17 ZigBee is widey supported by chip and module makers. Reference designs, protocol stacks, board layouts, and app notes are readily available from chip makers.

18. RF4CE 18 ZigBee Subset for remote controls We are a remote control society. We all use them now for entertainment systems. Next generations will replace IR with RF and not need line of sight. It is mentioned here because many of our designs will be interactive as well as controlled through a smart buildings. It is also mentioned here because it differentiates itself from smart phone functionality. A local only personal area network with separate controls.

19. Bluetooth - Legacy 19 Low Power, scatternet PAN mostly for non symmetrical streaming data Originally an IBM protocol, now standardized by IEEE 802.15.1. Managed by Bluetooth Special Interest group with over 18,000 member companies. Master/Slave packet based medium high data rates (1-24 Mbits/second) One master can handle up to 7 slaves. Good for audio streaming, but not an ideal solution to home and building automation. – But wait, there’s more !!!

20. Bluetooth Version 4.0 Pro’s • Supported by a few chips/manufacturers • Often free stacks • Will be dual mode in tablets/smart phones • Lower power modes • Medium data rates • HS mode may seamless connect to IP cloud Con’s • Not yet deployed and popular • Not a lot of single mode chipset support • Possibly more expensive gateway • Higher cost to smaller developers • Decisions for legacy, LE, or HS 20 In Version 4.0 Bluetooth, a new Low Energy flavor of is taking aim at automation and control. This includes ultra low power modes (<20 ma), 50 Meter ranges, star bus topology, 270 Kbit/sec usable data rates, and faster latency (6 msec compared to 100msec for Bluetooth Legacy). Also in Version 4.0 is Bluetooth High Speed which is modeled on WiFi.

21. Others 21 A couple of other proprietary and open standards are emerging, but not yet in a big way. Honorable mention to : IOHomecontrol – Analog Devices Design – not yet 2.4 GHz ANT+ -- Garmin Spec. Is gaining popularity with fitness machines. DECT – Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications

22. Overall Points 22 Because of the higher ISM frequencies, spread spectrum radios, comprehensive protocol stacks, transceiver chips, antennas, filters, baluns, and other rf components can be small enough and cheap enough to deploy on a wider basis. Several protocols are vying for attention and use in the still emerging automation market. The ability of radios that share the same frequencies to interoperability and cohabitate the airwaves will lead to a more robust automation network with local access and control as well as global access and security. The victors of this ongoing battle are still not known.

23. Q&A Day 4 Questions and Answers 23