Blog on “IoT Based Smart Home Automation”

Although, IoT has numerous Real Life Applications such as Smart Cities, Industrial Automation, Health Monitoring, Smart Environment, and Smart Agriculture and Irrigation but this blog is mainly focused on the Smart Home Automation.

WHAT IS IoT ?

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to a network of linked devices as well as the technology that enables communication between devices and the cloud as well as between devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects known as “things” that are equipped with sensors, software, and a variety of technologies that allow them to connect and via the internet, exchange data with other devices and systems.

WHAT IS SMART HOME AUTOMATION ?

A Smart Home is any home that includes automated, IoT devices connected to mobile applications. Users may control a variety of objects in their house with these IoT devices, including lights, security systems, and appliances. More and more homes are being constructed with automation from the ground up, although theoretically, any home with an internet connection and IoT devices qualifies as a Smart Home. These devices are connected to the Internet, which permits them to be controlled remotely. Home Automation allows devices to trigger one another, eliminating the need to operate them manually via an app or voice assistant. It can also contribute to enhanced safety thanks to Internet of Things devices such as security cameras and systems.

HOW DOES HOME AUTOMATION WORK ?

Home Automation is based on a network of devices that are connected to the Internet using various communication protocols, such as HTTP and HTTPS, furthermore; WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Siri (An Apple Product), and other technologies. The devices can be controlled remotely via electronic interfaces, such as a voice assistant like Alexa (An Amazon Product) or Google Assistant or an app. Many of these IoT devices include sensors that track changes in motion, temperature, and light to provide information about the device’s surroundings to the user. The user activates actuators, which are physical mechanisms such as smart light switches, motorized valves, or motors that allow devices to be controlled remotely, to make physical changes to the device.

WORKING LEVELS OF HOME AUTOMATION:

Home Automation Works on Three Levels; Monitoring, Control and Automation.

« Monitoring: Consumers can check in on their devices remotely via an app, which is referred to as Monitoring.

« Control: Control refers to the user’s ability to operate these devices remotely, such as moving a security camera to see more of a living area.

« Automation: Lastly, Automation requires programming devices to communicate with one another, such as when an armed security camera detects motion, a smart siren will activate.

CONTROL PROTOCOLS:

The control protocol describes how IoT devices connect to the Internet and to one other; if IoT devices are individuals, think of the protocol as their common language. Devices can communicate in a variety of languages, or protocols, similar to those used on Earth, including:

« WiFi: WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity. As WiFi is no longer the most widely used control protocol, your IoT device will have to rely on the standard Internet provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Whereas this doesn’t need an extra hub, note that it can slow your web aquatics speeds down, particularly if you have got a lot of various IoT devices created directly.

« Z-Wave: Z-Wave is a very helpful alternative of WiFi. It’s a wireless technology that won’t interfere with your WiFi; instead, it uses a low-power frequency of 908.42 MHz throughout the United States and Canada.

« ZigBee: ZigBee is a mesh network and universal language that allows IoT devices to communicate, comparable to Z-Wave.

« Thread: Thread is another low-power, wireless mesh networking protocol supported AN IP address open standard; it lets IoT devices connect with one another and also the cloud.

« Bluetooth: Lastly, Bluetooth is a mesh technology that allows users to automate and modify systems as well as enables users to control and monitor IoT devices.

For most people, WiFi-connected devices will be adequate, except for a lot of advanced Smart Homes; you would possibly wish to switch to a mesh network like Z-Wave or ZigBee.

HOME AUTOMATION SENSORS:

There are probably thousands of such sensors out there that may be a vicinity of this list. Since this is an introduction towards Smart Home Technology, we will keep it skimpy. Depending upon what you would like you’ll use one or several of those to create a truly Smart Home IoT product. The foremost notable IoT sensors used for Home Automation are as follows:

« Temperature sensors

« Lux sensors

« Water level sensors

« Air composition sensors

« Video cameras for surveillance

« Voice/Sound sensors

« Pressure sensors

« Humidity sensors

« Accelerometers

« Infrared sensors

« Vibrations sensors

« Ultrasonic sensors

HOME AUTOMATION PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES FOR SMART HOME DEVELOPERS:

The following Programming Languages dominated the Home Automation space: Python, Embedded C, C#, Shell, Go, JavaScript (Node.JS), PHPoC (PHP-on-Chip, Swift, Rust and LUA (Node.LUA). These have largely occurred as a result of the continuous progress of the languages for similar use cases.

REPORT ON IoT SMART HOMES:

As this is a modern era, era of technological advancements also people are getting busier and trying hard to spend their burden less and comfortable lives. There is nothing wrong to accept the fact that people are becoming lazier and they surely want comforts in every aspect of their lives. According to the recent trends and keeping in view of future as well, the report from lanars.com clearly states that the Smart Homes are becoming popular and increasingly rapidly.

CRITIQUE ON IoT BASED SMART HOME AUTOMATION:

The significant features of IoT Based Smart Home Automation System are elaborated above. So, keeping in view the importance of this Project, the Pros of IoT Based Smart Home Automation are as follows:

THE PROS:

« Remote Access: The ability to manage gadgets remotely allows you to do things like unlock the door for a plant sitter without leaving a key under the mat.

« Convenience: Another major selling feature of home automation systems is their convenience, since they essentially eliminate tiny annoyances like turning off the lights before going to bed or open the curtains when you wake up in the morning.

« Energy Efficiency: In terms of energy efficiency, Home Automation Systems have demonstrated their worth. Temperatures can be pre-programmed based on the time of day and the day of the week with automated thermostats. Product manufacturers claim that the systems can save users between 10% and 15% on their heating and cooling expenditures.

« Security: Sensors for doors and windows, security cameras that can detect persons and video doorbells that allow you greet whoever is knocking from anywhere with an Internet connection can all help to make your home safer. These features, when combined with automated security solutions, can help you reduce the danger of intrusion.

Although, IoT has a great application but on the contrary, IoT Devices can be Hacked over the internet also these are very expensive. According to Joerg Grafe, Senior Market Analyst, IBM, he said that “The Internet of Things is the game-changer for an overall business ecosystem transformation”. According to Scott Weiss, an American Venture Capitalist at the Silicon Valley Firm Andreessen Horowitz, he said that “With the IoT, we’re headed to a world where things aren’t liable to break catastrophically — or at least, we’ll have a hell of a head’s up. We’re headed to a world where our doors unlock when they sense us nearby”.

CONCLUSION:

The Internet of Things (IoT) has a far broader use in all aspects of life. People’s lives are increasingly busier, as we all know. As a result, the adoption of IoT-based appliances is rapidly expanding, as these gadgets or appliances make our lives easier and more comfortable. Devices based on the Internet of Things are used in a range of industries, including manufacturing, commercial organisations, hospitals, and so on. IoT devices are used for home automation in addition to their many other applications. Household appliances that are IoT-enabled can be effortlessly operated from afar. Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things are two concepts that can be integrated to make life easier and more comfortable.

REFERENCES:

1. Hardik Shah, “Home Automation Using the Internet of Thing (IoT)”, Simform, posted March 20, 2019, last updated January 03, 2022, https://www.simform.com/blog/home-automation-using-internet-of-things/

2. Anna Postol, Alexey Podolian, “IoT in Home Automation”, Lanars, posted June 23 2021, https://lanars.com/blog/iot-home-automation

3. Aliza Vigderman, Gabe Turner, “What Is Home Automation and How Does It Work?”, Security, last updated June 18, 2021, https://www.security.org/home-automation/

4. Radhika Garg, Swati Gupta, “A Review on Internet of Things for Home Automation”, International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology (IJERT), published July 18, 2020, https://www.ijert.org/a-review-on-internet-of-thing-for-home-automation

5. Rushabh Patel, “IoT and Home Automation: What Does The Future Hold?”, IoT Now Magazine, published June 10, 2020, https://www.iot-now.com/2020/06/10/98753-iot-home-automation-future-holds/