Home automation weblog

Random reader of this website might not know, but I run a company that produces automotive diagnostic software. One of our future products is OBDTester Handy, an OBD-2 diagnostic tool. I have designed the prototyping circuit board very universal, it contains more circuits than needed, so I can use it for my home automation experiments! It’s driven by a high-end 32bit microcontroller, it has a keyboard and a graphical display. You can see it will be very handy. In addition in also has Ethernet controller, CAN-BUS and K-Line interfaces.

I have started writing this blog to summarize ideas on designing a groundbreaking home automation system.

Groundbreaking … why ? Because I want this system to have functionality that other systems don’t have. The system will:

• control all lights
• control heating system and hot water circulation
• provide security functions (alarm)
• will be able to control other devices (radio, air conditioning) via infra-red “remote” control
• control panel accessible via TCP/IP (www)
• alerts via TCP/IP, phone call and SMS messages

The system will be using CAN-BUS as a data transport layer. I want the system to be as de-centralized as possible (so as it runs even if “main” control unit is down). The system will consist of many control units. Now I am thinking about these:

• Main ECU: TCP/IP connectivity, log memory, etc..
• PIR Sensor ECU: Up to 8 PIR sensors connected to the ECU
• Actuator ECU: A couple of 230VAC relays
• Room control ECU: Relay for light, PIR sensor input, temperature sensor, IR control
• Keypad ECU (with graphical display)