IP network based home automation system using AVR microcontroller

Abstract

Companies producing consumer products have begun working on ways to control their products over the IP (Internet Protocol). The main feature provided by the already-existing home automation systems is that, every piece of equipment integrated is to be controlled by a central control system unit. Centralized solution based on this idea are very expensive, difficult to configure and more prone to problems because if the central control unit fails then every device becomes out of control. IP based systems are supposed to be simpler and easier to manipulate, with the only necessity being, connected to the network, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. With this in mind, we designed a low cost hardware and its requisite software framework based on distributed control system for home/commercial automation, in which every device would be connected with an electronic chip capable of communicating over the IP network and also being able to control the state of device, which includes switching and change in the device intensity. Furthermore additional circuitry has been added to turn on or off the device after certain period of user defined time. The beauty of this technique is that each device is its own control system and gets commands from the user via smart phone or even a web browser, if one device goes down then it doesn't affect the functioning of the rest of the devices. This paper seeks to pave the way for IP-enabling home appliances, making such devices part of well-known field the Internet of Things. Enabling each of these devices with capability of communicating over the network eliminates the need for special internet connected control units, and thus simplifying home automation.