Ease of access for all age f people, provided put at convenient location.
Reduces human effort, so brigs home comfort for all classes of people.
Smarter processing and services which increases its popularity.
Alert system is quick in any case of an emergency.
4.2.5 Disadvantages
Security concerns, as data may be trapped by hackers.
Most of the times range is restricted, because every router has its own periphery of operation.
High dependency on sensor which makes the system vulnerable if sensor fails.
System compatibility is major concern, as microcontrollers with different architecture require different types of memory.
Cost of implementation t the initial level is not in the reach of all classes of people (financially).
4.3 Literature Review
Very recently, literatures are available on home automation system where Wi-Fi–based microcontrollers are embedded [13] along with authentication facility. Energy management perspectives are also considered [14] for multiple users. A voice recognition characteristic [15] is also invoked to operate primary electrical appliances, and this particular facility is precisely helpful for blind people. Facial recognition is also proposed [16], but it contains some practical limitations, which is generally ignored. Earlier people tried to include different facial gestures like sad and angry for the same purpose [17], but complexity of the algorithm and time-variant of the expressions makes it little successful. OpenHAB framework is also considered for secure wireless network design [18] and is in experimental stage. For complex data transmission condition, various sensor nodes are considered [19] where encryption algorithm is incorporated for security purpose. Thermal comfort is prioritized [20] by a few groups of workers, whereas others prioritized the mobile app development [21]. Temperature sensor plays an important part for automatic truing of air-conditioner system [22] under closed door arrangement. GPS facility is also added for tracking the person [23]. However, the present system also deals with the cost of the total system, and therefore proposed novel architecture for the purpose of improvement of the quality of operation along with multiple feature facility.
4.4 Role of Sensors and Microcontrollers in Smart Home Design
A smart home was designed using components such as an Arduino module, ultrasonic sensor, GPS receiver, sound sensor, IR sensor, GSM shield, LCD, LED, and buzzer. There were three sections: input section, processing unit, and output section. The ultrasonic sensors were installed to detect any signal such as movement, sound, or gesture that come in the way. The range of operation was to be increased when detecting signal which was achieved by the RF module. For determining the exact location of the household appliances, a GPS-enabled Wi-Fi receiver was used in order to track the target device’s (household appliances) condition and signal. To sense the sound honking in the surrounding, a sound sensor was used. To sense the motion moving in the surrounding, a motion sensor was used. The Arduino module, which is the main platform, has four loops, namely, loop 1, loop 2, loop 3, and loop 4. Loop 1 activated when the target device was powered ON and the also true key was present. It also contained loop 2 which ran when the mode or context switches was enabled. Loop 3 initiated when the conditions of Loop 1 were negated. Loop 4 started when the target device was turned on even though the true key was absent.
There are several sensors present in the system, each having specific task as follows:
| [i] | Level sensor: It checks the oxygen–carbon dioxide level in the room. |
| [ii] | Humidity sensor: It checks the humidity level of the room. |
| [iii] | Light sensor: It measures intensity, technically called luminance. |
| [iv] | Door lock sensor: It checks whether the door is locked or not. |
| [v] | Temperature sensor: It checks the temperature of the room. |
| [vi] | Motion sensor: It calculates the speed or RPM of fan which is moving in the room. |
| [vii] | Ultrasonic sensor: It calculates the distance of any object from the target device. |
In this module, we will be making a home automation system controlled using IoT embedded with advanced level microcontroller (Raspberry Pi) and cloud architecture (Particle Cloud) or Blynk application using IFTTT or Mosquito agent. Here, we will be creating a raspberry pi application to control home AC, fan, light (staircase or bedroom or corridor or front door, etc.), television, mirror, and appliances using Particle Mobile app and online particle IDE. It requires the following components:
| [i] | Raspberry Pi 3 with Raspbian installed in it |
| [ii] | Relay Module |
| [iii] | 220v bulbs |
Figure 4.1 IoT-based smart home automation system.
| [iv] | Jumper wires |
| [v] | Motor |
First, we will make an account on the Particle.io. Then, particle agent will be installed with the Raspberry Pi of the embedded system so that interface can be made with particle cloud. This is background software which is able to interact with the Raspberry pi through GPIO pin. Here, we can add new devices as well as create mesh networks, integrated with IFTTT, Microsoft Azure, and web IDE. A block diagram is presented below.
In Figure 4.1, household appliances (fan, light, TV, AC, etc.) represent as target devices which connect with IoT devices or smart sensors which embedded with code. When this IoT device connects with mobile network, it can directly attach with Google API through Google Cloud Console. Using this mobile network, every application of smart phone which acts as tune device can connect with IoT device and can use every module or technique of Google Cloud Console.
Voice-operated room switching control system is the smarter version of the remote-controlled switching system. As titled, these systems are controlled over voice commands over the internet, thus providing you with no bound for the control. Home is a place where people incline to at the day end. After a long tiring day when people return exhausted, they may find it tough to move around the corner of the room where the switch board for the room appliance control is situated at the convenient locations, closer to the sitting or bed arrangement. It is also difficult for a person to locate the switch board of the staircase, or the room main entrance in the dark. So, if a small technology helps them to switch their room light and fan or other electrical appliances of low wattage or read out the news to them, with a single voice command through their smart phone or table or the control dock settled in their room, it will enhance the comfort experience to next level.
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