Home Automation System Design Project

This assignment presents a detailed project report on the design and implementation of a wireless home automation system. The report outlines the project objectives, technical challenges encountered during development, innovative solutions implemented to overcome these challenges, and the student's individual contributions to the project. It also includes a comprehensive overview of the final system, highlighting its key features and functionalities.

Career Episode 1
Competency
Demonstration Report

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Bluetooth Based Home Automation System Using Cell Phone
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: [PLEASE FILL]
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The advancement of technology is often determined as an ever changing process. With
the development of various innovation and advancement in the field of information technology,
there remained grew a demand for wireless application for the electronic devices. I have found
that the application of the Bluetooth technology has allowed in the establishment of wireless
communication between devices. Therefore, I took this project in order to design and
development of an home automation system that allowed the user to control and monitor the
various appliances used within the house with the help of cell phoned. In this project, I have
presented a detailed design and implemented a secure, flexible and cost efficient home
automation system that can be controlled by cell phone. I have used Arduino BT board that is
stand alone in nature for connecting the home devices and establishing communication between
them. Further, I have used relays for connecting the devices with the home automation system.
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CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
During the design of the project, I have focused on the home automation system with the
significant aim to design a wireless system for controlling and monitoring the devices used
within the home. I have therefore, employed the Bluetooth technology for establishing wireless
communication between the devices. In order to complete the design and development of the
home automation system, I have developed the following objectives as demonstrated in the
section below:
 To design a scalable and low cost home automation system;
 To identify the hardware components required for the automation system;
 To evaluate and design the hardware architecture;
 To develop the working principle and software architecture required for
implementing the system;
 To establish wireless communication between the automation system, cell phone and
other electrical devices used;
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
At the initial phase of the project development, I have determined a block diagram
indicating the hardware elements and functional requirement of the home automation. I have
further defined the working principle of the home automation for monitoring and controlling the
electrical devices used within the home environment. I have developed the hardware
implementation and the general architecture of the system while connected with the Bluetooth
module. Then after the section of the appropriate Bluetooth module, I have defined the functional
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and non-functional requirement of the software development. After the development of the initial
prototype of the system, I have tested the connectivity and operations of the proposed home
automation. In addition to that, based on the incapability identified from the testing, I have
modified the system for providing the required output.
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1.1: Team Member Associated in this Project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
In this project I was provided with multifaceted responsibility of developing the hardware
module and implementing the software implementation for the home automation system. I have
established the connectivity between the Srduino Board and the cell phone used for controlling
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the devices. Apart from that, I have implemented the stack initialisation and device discovery
system for easy connection of the devices through Bluetooth module.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
Figure 1.2: Block diagram for the system
I have learned that the Bluetooth technology has the capability of working within 2.4
GHz, frequency and within the maximum range of 100 m. Apart from that the 3Mbps of speed is
provided by the Bluetooth module based on the devices that is linked with. I have employed the
wireless connectivity characteristic of the Bluetooth module in this project for developing the
home automation system. Therefore, I have approached for the development of reliable, secure
and low cost automation with the control system using a low cost cell phone. I have used
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Arduino BT board for connecting the devices with the developed system. I have established
wireless communication between the Arduino board and cell phone with the application of
Bluetooth module. All other devices are connected to the system with more modification to the
connectivity. I have further used python script for providing access of the arduino board to the
smart phone.
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have applied and used python script in the cell phone for enabling the access to the BT
module. Further, though Python I was able to establish an ad hoc communication protocol with
the two electrical devices and to control the Arduino board’s behaviour. I have used ATmega168
8-bit microcontroller with the arduino board for connecting the Bluetooth module. Furthermore,
in the stack initialisation process, I have set various parameters including discoverable mode,
connectable mode, baud rate, port name with the Arduino board. I have used Arduino Alpha
software for developing the stack initiation. In addition to that, for establishing the
communication connectivity between the different devices, I have used RFCOMM protocol.
Through this I was able to send information and control status from the mobile phone it to the
Arduino board and vice versa.
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Figure 2.3: Circuit Diagram for the proposed system
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
For the successful development of the automation system, I have used two major
components including Arduino BT board and cell phone. I have successfully identified the
elements and developed the block diagram indicating the connection between the elements.
Apart from that, I have designed the switching circuitry while providing 5V-240V power supply.
Before developing the graphical interface, I have developed a program flow determining the
appropriate functionality required for the establishment of the automation system.
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The Bluetooth receiving wire in our module grabs the parcels sent from the mobile
phone. Along these lines, these bundles containing the machine status summons are pipelined
through ATmega168 microcontroller and the planned simple hardware as indicated by the
meaning of each yield. Distinctive home machines are associated with the computerized yield
ports of the Arduino BT board by means of transfers to give adequately high streams and voltage
similarity. For test purposes, 25W, 240V lights have been utilized.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
Issue: I have programmed the Arduino BT with C language for establishing Bluetooth
connection with other devices. I have used the Bluetooth antenna for picking up the packets and
transmit to the cell phone. I have further pipelined the packets and status commands using
ATmega168 microcontroller while defining the analogue circuitry based on the detailed
information and output definition. For testing the devices, I have used 240V, 25W lamps. I have
faced significant issue when the command failed to turn off or on the devices.
Solution: In order to overcome the issue, I have modified the initial circuit design that I
have used for implementing the automation system. For resolving the issue, I have designed a
feedback circuit and connected it with the microcontroller for reading the current status of the
device. Through this I was able to read the status of the electrical devices through mobile
phones. During the testing I have observed that the modified circuit was able to successfully turn
on or off the devices. If the switch is on, the module sends back information to cell phone
indicating the same.
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CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
In order to create innovative yet creative work through this project, I have determined
that the development of attractive user interface was required for the automation system. In
addition to that, I have observed that the process used for the system for connecting and
controlling the electrical appliances are much complicated. In addition to that, for the simple
switching on or off of the devices, various background processes were followed. With the
development of the graphical interface of the project, I was able to hide the internal processes
and interaction between the devices used. Further, I have used GUI package for customizing the
interface with command buttons, alert messages and text boxes. In addition to that, for enabling
enhanced security I have implemented password protection in the system for validating the
authorised users.
CE 1.3.6 Collaborative work
I have worked under the supervision of the assistant professor for the completion of the
project. I have discussed the project issue with the team members for resolving the issue. In
addition to that, I have initiated various team meetings and group discussion for communicating
with the team members and discussing about new ideas for development and implementation of
the home automation system.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
Through this project, I was successful in implementing the wireless, flexible and low cost
solution for controlling the devices and provide home automation. Through the password
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protection, I was able to provide secure access to the automation system. The developed system
and the graphical interface was useful in determining the current state of the devices and
providing wireless connection for controlling and maintaining the devices for home automation.
Therefore, the design of the low cost home automation system was a success.
CE 1.4.2 My contribution to work
In spite of being working as a team member, I have worked in this project for the design,
development and testing of the proposed home automation system. I have used my technical and
practical knowledge about the circuit design for the proper establishment of the connection
between different devices.
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