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   System Lab HomeAutomation |
Home Automation Overview & Resources
Controlling lights, windows, doorlocks, heat, water and providing a consistant user-interface.
A key-issue for home-automation is the networking, assuming that up to 100 devices or even more are attached requires quite some network overhead, traffic but also connectivity, not the mention security.
Powerline The power-lines are already laid through the entire house and should be the first consideration to connect controlling devices to a home-network. On the other hand there are some security consideration involved, as powerlines may spread to other appartments or even houses, so security is here an issue. Bandwidth max. 10Mbit/s.
PowerLineCommunication.Net Tech reviews and news X-10 is a protocol-definition running over the power-line with a 120kHz signal. No additional wiring is required. X-10 is mainly used to switch devices, no for general purpose use as such like TCP/IP. Bandwidth arround 40-100Kbit/s.
SmartHome.Com Good shop and info X10.Com X10 stuff IntelliHome.Be European site to get X10 stuff Ethernet over Powerline, some chipsets provide regular ethernet over power-line at aprx. 3.5Mbits/s.
PlugTek.Com: Powerline Home Networking Another approach AdaptiveNetworks: Ethernet over Powerline One approach HomePlug Power Alliance Not-for-profit corporation (not much content as of April 2001)
Phoneline The phone-line are less spread in a house or appartment than the power-lines, but are already laid. To use the phone-line and still allow ordinary phone, fax and modems to work the new usage of the wire must lie at a higher frequency-band, therefore new modems are required. Baadwidth arround 1Mbit/s, new products provide 10Mbit/s.
Intel: AnyPoint PCI card to phone-line ActionTec: ActionLink PCI card to phone-line
Wireless The wireless approach is very intrigueing and allows mobility which wirebased connectivity cannot provide. Things to consider are security and also electromagnetic pollution. Bandwidth lies arround 10Mbit/s.
PracticallyNetworked: Wireless Overview Overview WI-FI.Org Interoperateability between 802.11B's Cnet: IEEE 802.11B vs Bluetooth Article Bluetooth.Com More standards
10/100 Base TX Ethernet 10/100Base-TX requires dedicated wiring and also hub/switches as nodes to provide the connectivity (star-like); advantage is high bandwidth from 10Mbit/s, 100Mbit/s and now even 1Gbit/s through 10/100Base-TX cables (4 pairs). The hubs (shared bandwidth) and switches (dedicated bandwidth) are widely available as well the cables up-to 50m in length. For larger distance a repeater is required.
RS-485 RS-485 is also a dedicated wiring like 10/100Base-TX Ethernet, but it requires only two wires, and additionally it is free in topology (token-ring, star, etc) which is very handy. Multiple senders and receivers can be attached to the wire. Bandwidth-limit lies arround 10Mbit/s.
The meaning of this overview suggests a mixed network environment for real home-automation, e.g. X10 or power-line networking for switching devices, wireless and/or ethernet to distribute video-stream through the home, or simply networking multiple computers together.
PracticallyNetworked (TimHiggins) Great overview of network products
More documentation on home-automation:
Home Automation Index Great Overview with tons of links Linux Home Automation Lot of links and infos, very recommended MisterHouse.Net Web-package to control house (X10 etc), very comprehensive Linux HA @ SourceForge Mailing-list BottleRocket Home Automation Software for the X10 FireCracker kit FutureLife.ch Swiss house-automation project OSGI.Org Standards over standards
Online stores selling home-automation items:
SmartHome.Com Good shop and info HomeToys.Com: HTNEWS Site with overview of gadgets HomeTech.Com overview of technology, good shop WeedTech.Com I/O boards (serial interface) IntelliHome.Be European site to get X10 stuff HomeAutomationTimes.Com News magazine for homebuilders BroadbandUtopia.com Structured wiring and smart home solutions HomeAutomation.Org Directory of Home Automation Websites
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