Smart Home
Smart home is the place where everything is connected & controlled. Simply where electronics talk & live as neighbors.
Right from door lock to window glass’s, video surveillance to intrusion detection systems, refrigerator to washing machine are all connected using wired, wireless & internet communication technology. Smart home or home automation is an extension of building automation where HVAC, security & fire systems are integrated and can be controlled using BMS central point.
It is smart thought that helps us to design the smart home solutions as main purpose is to create the comfortable state of art living with an idea in min to save energy, time & money. The purpose of investing in home automation is to create future proof technological home with expand-ability & interoperability in mind.
The home automation devices can be wired or wireless, depends on the technology we choose, actually the protocols. The widely used protocols are Z Wave, Zigbee, EnOcean, KNX, X 10 etc. Each protocol has specific media, data transmission & reception rate and application.
| PROTOCOL | COMMUNICATION | RATE |
| Zigbee | Radio Frequency | 20~250 Kbps |
| Z Wave | Radio Frequency | 100 Kbps |
| EnOcean | Radio Frequency / PLC | 9600 bps |
| X 10 | Radio Frequency / PLC | 20 bps |
| Universal Power Bus (UPB) | PLC (Power line communication) | 480 bps |
| KNX | RF, PLC, Twisted pair, Infra red Ethernet | 9600 bps |
Home automation is generally divided into three generations:
1. Wireless technology ( First generation)
2. Artificial intelligence (Second generation)
3. Robot buddy (Third generation)
In smart home every connected device & unit is controlled from central point or points, it can be a control panel or a Smartphone or tablet PC using smart home application. And can be controlled as well as operated remotely regardless of location & area.
The unit’s / Devices controlled using smart home technology are many but not limited to
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
• Lighting control system
• Security systems
• Access controls
• Intrusion Detection & Alarm systems
• Gas detectors
• Home automation for the elderly and disabled
• Swimming pool alarm systems
• Audio & Video systems
The global home automation system market is expected to reach USD 78.27 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 12.46% between 2016 and 2022 (Ref: Markets & Markets)
For design & solutions regarding smart homes, contact CCTV Institute at info@CCTVinstitute.co.uk