Home Automation Console

1. Home Automation Console Team HAC: Luci Puryear Nidhi Singh Carlos Vasquez Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mitch Thornton Sponsors: Extreme Networks

2. Overview • Project Description • Home Automation Console • Considerations • Technologies • Software/Hardware • Accomplishments/Problems • Test Plan • Timeline

3. Home Automation • Home automation is a growing field • Many types of automation technologies exist • Most of these technologies are independent of each other

4. Home Automation Console • Integration of different home automation technologies • Easy to access and use • Ethernet capable • Consumer Advantages

5. How the Console Works

6. Considerations • Environmental • Economic • Human Factors • Safety • Political

7. Technologies • X-10 • Infrared • Ethernet

8. What is x10? Power line carrier (PLC) protocol Allows compatible products to communicate via existing 110V wiring

9. Why x10? • Inexpensive: 3 Modules/Controller for $50 • Universally available • Flexible: modules exist for a large variety of devices • Easy to install: No additional wiring

10. Alternative: CEBus Consumer Electronics Bus • Noise resistant • Higher collision resolution • Faster data transmission • Very expensive • Limited devices

11. How x10 works? Voltage signal Transmitter Receiver 110 V 16.66ms 60 Hz powerline 1 ms X-10 information window Zero crossing points

12. X10 Transmission 3 zero crossing points for 3 phases of AC poweline Max. data rate:60 bits/s Binary 1 = 1 ms burst of 120 kHz at zero crossing point Binary 0 = Absence of burst at zero crossing point

13. Basic X10 Message Function code or unit code Function bit Consists of 13 bits Error detection: Each data bit is actually sent twice, in complementary form, on alternate half cycles

14. How are devices controlled using x10? • Plug appliance into X10 receiver module • Plug the module into electrical outlet. • Set the house and unit codes.. • Plug controller (transmitter) into any other electrical outlet in your house • Set the proper house code.

15. Infrared Technology Console Device with remote Infrared signals Infrared transmitter

16. Ethernet Program Allow internet remote access to appliances Client/Server model • Server supports HTML documents C/C++ and TCP/IP Protocol

17. Command Control Program (CCP) Home Automation Console X-10 Controller/ IR Transmitter X-10 modules/appliances commands signals

18. Hardware needed for Implementation • Tuxscreen • X-10 modules and controller • Ethernet card • Infrared Transmitter

19. Aka Shannon/Philips IS2630 Screen Phone Intel SA 1100 StrongARM CPU 133Mhz 16MB DRAM Sharp Color Touchscreen Infrared Keyboard Tuxscreen

20. Tuxscreen • Why use the Tuxscreen? • Advantages of having one device dedicated to home automation • Memory Expandable • Inexpensive $99 • Mobile

21. Linux vs. Inferno • Inferno • Does not support needed applications like a compiler • Difficult to use • small size • Linux • Allows Tuxscreen to run needed program • Easy to use • Popular • small and powerful

22. X-10 and Ethernet Hardware • X-10 modules and controller • TW-523 Controller Two Way Interface Module • 3-Pin Grounded Appliance Module • Lamp Module • Ethernet card • Trendnet – TE100-PC16 Fast Ethernet Card

23. Infrared Transmitter • Separate from Tuxscreen and connects to serial port • Allows console to control devices already equipped with IR • Components Used • Holtek HT-12E Encoder IC • Infrared Diode T1 ¾(NM)

24. Cost of Prototype • Tuxscreen - $99(provided) • X-10 modules(provided) • Light modules(2) - $12.95 • Appliance modules(1) - $12.99 • X-10 controller – $23.95(provided) • Ethernet Card - $15.00 • IR transmitter components - $20.00 • Total cost $190.00

25. Testing Plan: Phase I • Basic x-10 commands will be sent to x-10 modules using console. Observations will be recorded using multimeter and oscilloscope • x-10 commands will be sent to modules with an extra appliance plugged into house wiring to ensure that this device not harmed • All common appliances will be plugged in; all x-10 functions and x-10 modules will be tested for functionality

26. Testing Plan: Phase II • Goal: Gauge console's user friendliness and functionality • Tests will be performed by three users of varying computer literacy • Users will be provided a checklist of tasks • Users will judge clarity and understandability • Modifications will be made based on user response

27. Accomplishments • Research • Hardware Received • Website created • Ethernet Program written • Command Control Program written • Infrared Transmitter designed

28. Difficulties • Tuxscreen • Command Control Program

29. Tuxscreen • Initially serial communication could not be established with the Tuxscreen • Original operating system could not be backed up • Bootloader could not be uploaded

30. Tuxscreen • Attempted to upload bootloader in several ways • Unlocked Flash Memory • Tried contacting people • Tuxscreen#, Message Board, Individuals

31. Command Control Program • Object oriented C++ programming • Accepts command inputs from users and sends appropriate signals to the serial port • Confirmed using an oscilloscope that program sends correct binary data to serial port, but controller does not perform the command

32. CCP Pseudocode • Example of “turn on module1” command lampMenu( int &M) { //lamp menu if(A==1){ if(status==0) //send lamp on command module.setOn(M); else cout << already on << endl; } else if(A==2) { if(status==1) //send lamp off command module.setOff(M); cout << already off << endl; }

34. References • http://www.x10.com • http://www.x10.org • http://www.smarthome.com Sources for images used in the slides:

35. Questions