Project Report: Designing a Prototype Home Automation System

This project report details the design and implementation of a home automation system. The project aims to create a user-friendly system for elderly and disabled individuals, enabling control of home appliances via voice and switch modes through an Android application. The system utilizes a Raspberry Pi for control, IP cameras for real-time video streaming, and secure Wi-Fi protocols for remote access. The project report outlines the objectives, the student's role as a team member, and the responsibilities undertaken, including designing a compact prototype, ensuring application features like video streaming and speech recognition, and implementing security measures. The report further elaborates on the technologies used, such as Android open-source technologies and Wi-Fi, and the engineering knowledge applied, including integrated circuits, microprocessors, and programming languages like Java and Python. Finally, it addresses identified issues, such as data analysis errors and API version compatibility, and the solutions implemented to resolve them.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Designing of Home Automation System
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the Project
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
Home automation system is responsible for making the major operations of the home
appliances extremely convenient and even for saving energy. This type of system makes
human life much easier and simpler. The main examples of such devices are centralized
controlling of lighting equipment, kitchen appliances, security systems, air conditioners, air
heaters and many more. In this project, I have designed and fabricated the home automation
system with lower expenses as well as wireless system. I have designed the system for the
purpose of assisting or providing support to fulfil the major requirements of disabled and
elderly in home. I used android application that could stream the video of the IP Camera. For
the control system, I have implemented wireless technology for providing remote access even
from the smart phones. For designing purpose, I have used Raspberry pi as the credit sized
system. Thus, in this particular project, I have provided a compressed design for the proposed
Home Automation System.

CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
During this project of Home Automation System, I have developed a user-friendly
system, which could be easily used for the elderly and disabled persons. I also ensured this
system is supported by all devices that are capable of Wi-Fi. Therefore, to complete this
project with better efficiency, I developed the following objectives:
 To design a prototype for the home automation system and providing distinct features.
 To control the various home appliances with the help of applications like voice mode
and switch mode.
 To develop such an application, which could include the several features of voice
mode as well as switch mode application for controlling the switches.
 To stream the real time video from the respective IP cameras. And receive quality
video.
 To utilize secured protocols over the Wi-Fi connection so that other the devices could
not control or manage the home applications.
 To secure the connection channels within Raspberry pi and application and to select
SSL as the option for secured connections over SSH and TCP.
 To make these home appliances extremely flexible to control and allow them to be
controlled by any device that has capability of connecting to Wi-Fi and could be
controlled from remote locations.
 To make the system platform extensible for the future enhancements.
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
I was selected as a responsible team member in the project. I have proper field
experiences for all types of electronics projects and hence I bear fundamental knowledge for
electronics engineering. Therefore, I was selected for completing the project with all of the
members of my team under the significant guidance of our project supervisor. I have

Project Supervisor
Team Member
(Me)
Head of the Department
Team Member Team Member
elementary knowledge of integrated circuits, integrated applications and microprocessors or
computer architecture and hence completing this particular project was extremely easy. My
key work area was to develop a prototype for the project by providing a compact design of
the system. Being a responsible team member, I undertook the duty of giving regular updates
to my project supervisor.
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
As a team member within the project, I had some of the most significant
responsibilities like providing a complete and compact design for the home automation
system. I even had to design the basic prototype for the system to control the several home
appliances, which could be controlled or managed wirelessly through applications. I even
made sure that the developed application could provide features of video streaming, switch
mode and speech recognition. Since, this system was made for disabled and elderly person, I

made the design extremely user-friendly. Regarding interfacing, I have used Raspberry Pi and
used transistor as the switch. My other responsibilities included using secure protocols over
the connection of Wi-Fi, with the purpose that no other device could control these home
appliances. I selected SSL protocol for secured connection over SSH and TCP. For the real
time video streaming, I have used IP cameras in this project. Moreover, for developing the
application, I have also used switch mode and voice mode o control these switches of the
home appliances.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
In the project, I have utilized six significant technology exposures, which are
Google’s android open-source technologies, Wi-Fi technology, utilizing transistor as the
switch, interfacing the relays with DC or AC power sources, embedded programming and
interfacing wireless adapters to raspberry pi. There are some of the major system, which
could easily control the home appliances with the help of android based devices. After proper
research, I came up with the idea to design the system with application layer prototype. It
could synthesize the respective speech data and hence could be analysed for further
processing.
I performed the connection of android applications with raspberry pi by utilizing
socket programming.

Figure 2: Block Diagram of Proposed Home Automation System
I have used Wi-Fi technology since it is better than Bluetooth and ZigBee. The
bandwidth of the Wi-Fi technology is exceeded to 150 Mbps and is also ideal for the video
transmission. For controlling electronics, I have used Raspberry pi as project controller since
it has processing power as well as large developer community. There are subsequently 4
relays that are associated with the power strip and GPIO pins for connecting to the transistors.
Regarding software environment, I have used android developer tool or ADT for building the
android applications to receive the respective live video feed. I have also used RPI-GPIO
interface library to execute the project properly.

CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
To complete the project, I had utilized my elementary knowledge of integrated
circuits as well as applications. Moreover, I had also applied understanding of electronics
devices, microprocessors and circuits for properly integrating the system. For designing
purpose, I have applied circuit designing and error control coding. For the software
development, I have used my knowledge of Java and Python.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
I have completed the task by executing several experiments and tests. I design the
power strips and connected the relays to the power strips.

Figure 3: Block Diagram of Hardware Description
I have used two programming languages of Java and Python for this project. Since,
the application was developed on android, Java platform was used and for writing the codes
of server, I have used Python language. Since, Raspbian is the free OS and it comes with over
35000 packages, I took the decision to use this OS in my project.
Table 1: Cost Estimation of Project
I designed the system for assisting and providing support to the elderly as well as
disabled people in home. For security purpose, I have used IP cameras to control the video

streaming. The home appliances could be easily controlled through the mobile or tablet. I
have made the design for the android devices with lower API version than 16 for converting
the speech data to the string data.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
The foremost issue, which I have faced here was while analysing the data and
activating the GPIO or general purpose input output pins. During the connection of these
GPIO pins with the relays switch, I was getting erroneous data and hence our project results
were not correct. The second issue that I had faced was that, I have selected the android
devices, with much lower version of API. Previously, I had selected the version of 10 and
hence all the devices were not supporting this version and I was not getting my desired
output. Moreover, I selected relays of higher volt and ampere than the usual range for better
results and hence the cost of the project went up than the normal range.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
For the first issue, I gave the solution for analysing the data in a better effectiveness.
Hence, I was able to active the GPIO pins. Moreover, I changed the PCB for better
connection of relays switch and GPIO pins. With this PCB, I finally got the error free data.
For the next issue, I provided the solution of using API version lower than 16 and hence all
the devices were supporting our project. Finally, for the third issue, I have used relays of 6V
and 3A and the price was reduced.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I had made the distinct plans to accomplish the project works with higher
effectiveness and efficiency. I have also attended various workshops before initiating my

work. I got appropriate and accurate knowledge about microprocessor as well as integrated
circuits.
CE 1.3.6 Collaborative Work
Collaboration of work was one of the major factors in this specific project. I provided
the weekly progress report to my project supervisor. I even gave presentations in front of the
HOD in every month.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
The project had been helpful to me for learning to design the prototype of home
automation system. The automatic controlling of the electronic or electrical devices are
involved with wireless communications. I have used Java and Python languages for the
android software development.
CE 1.4.2 My Contribution to work
Here, I was chosen as the responsible member of team by my project supervisor. My
foremost contribution was proposing a compact and accurate design of the home automation
system. I have also developed this application for all versions of android and have used
programming languages of Java and Python for the software development.