Collaborative building control: a conceptual mixed-initiative framework

ABSTRACT In the last two decades, automation systems have shown advanced developments and are widely adopted for various purposes in many fields. However, automation in buildings has not gained popularity and has a low acceptance level amongst the occupants. Decreased perceived control, ever-changing dynamic human needs, and standardized, one-size-fits-all approach in current automation systems lead to disharmony in human-machine coexistence. Although well-established continuous interaction between building control systems and occupants is acknowledged as one of the core elements of intelligent buildings, defined borderlines of the prevailing automation modalities fail to satisfy this primary feature. This research proposes a conceptual mixed-initiative building control framework enhancing collaboration and communication between building occupants and the automation. Through benefiting from both the control capacity of computer-powered methods and flexibility granted by incorporating occupants in the loop, demonstrated framework components may enact concurrent assessment of occupant comfort and energy efficiency while making automated applications more favorable for building inhabitants.