Project Name : Computer Controlled Home (Smart Home)
Theme Name : Information and Education Technology
Objective/Aim: The project aims to build a prototype system for the control of electrical/electronic devices in the house through internet. The major aim of the project is to eliminate the clutter of switch boards and wires in the house and provide flexibility of controlling the devices from a single point, from within the house or outside.
The project provides a low cost value addition to the house which has a computer, and helps in controlling the various electrical/ electronic devices
Scientific Principle Involved: The scientific principles involved in the development of the prototype project are:-
Hardware interface of the real world electrical/ electronic devices to a computer
Software programs to interact between computer and external devices
Internet programming to access the software/hardware
Materials used: General Purpose Printed Circuit Board (pcb), NPN transistor 2N2222A/ SL100. Relays, diodes, resistors, MCT2E opto-coupler, step-down transformer, voltage regulator, bridge rectifier, wires, a personal computer, 25-pinParallel Printer Port Cable
Working investigation/findings:
Prototype Model Description
The prototype model for the computer controlled home (smarthome) consists of an interface circuit designed to interact between the computer and the real world devices. The interface circuit consists of components to interface four devices (one of which is shown in Figure1). The interface consists of a transistor switch [2N222A an NPN transistor or SL100] controlled through the printer port. The printer port and the interface circuit are connected through the parallel printer port cable (25 pin). The printer port and the transistor are isolated by an opto isolator, MCT2E. The transistor drives the electro-magnetic relay which switches on and off the connected devices.
Utility and further scope of the project:
Utility
This project has a wide area of application. The major utility of the system developed is to free the house of the clutter created by the switch boards, and to provide single point interface for control of the devices from a point. This project can also be used in factories to regulate the working of the massive machines and switch the works from one machine to another.
Further Scope
The prototype system controls the devices through a web/internet client on a local PC. It can be trivially extended to control from any internet connected devices such as laptop, smartphone, tabs etc
The project has limitations of switching the devices on and off only, but it can be further extended to control all other operations of the devices.
Advancement in the security features is required for the implementation of the prototype and the same shall be achieved by providing user name and password facilities. It may be further extended by using biometric features.
Advancement of this technology can also be benefit in Kitchens to control stoves and therefore, by extension, in cooking.
Name of the School: B.V.V. Sangha’s Basaveshwar Public School, North Karnataka.
