Understanding Smart Sensors - Nomads.usp

134 Understanding Smart SensorsFire and smokesensorsEntertainmentcontrolsProgrammablelightingAirconditioningPowermeterLoad shedding andenergy managementElectroniclocksSecuritysensorsMoisturesensing andcontrolSprinkleractuatorsFigure 6.6 Building automation.Other aspects of these systems are self-diagnostics, data logging, fire detectionand sprinkler systems, energy usage monitoring, and security systems.6.7 Home AutomationThe computer control of future homes is the goal of the Smart House project.Among the likely candidates for interfacing to the network are the heating, ventilation,and air conditioning (HVAC) system; water heater; range; security;and lighting [16]. Remote meter reading and demand-side management byutility companies are among the driving forces for home applications. Protocolacceptance in this consumer environment is contingent on achieving lowcost/node and ease of operation. The speed of those systems will range fromlow to high, depending on the devices connected to the system. Both the messagesize and the message protocol complexity will be medium.Over two decades ago, X-10 Corporation developed the X-10 protocolfor homes, which has been used extensively for lamp and appliance controls[17]. More recently, the Smart House Applications Language (SHAL) wasdeveloped and includes over 100 message types for specific functions. Dedicatedmulticonductor wiring is required in the home. The system can address900 nodes and operates at a maximum of 9.6 Kbps. Two additional contendersin this arena are CEBus and LonTalk.