"Smart home": the control controller. "Smart house": constituent elements, purpose, principle of work

The concept of arrangement of the "smart house" has long passed from the category of fantastic to the status of being realized. To some extent this idea is embodied in many private cottages and apartments, making it easier for users to use the technology. However, at this stage it is possible to talk about the mass dissemination of this ideology with great reservations, since a full-fledged integrated device of multifunctional control systems is expensive and many seem very complicated. Actually, the heart of such systems is the "smart house" controller, whose presence distinguishes the principles of this idea from the usual electronic automatics.

What is a control controller?

Any controller is a means of controlling certain processes and is in conjunction with automated equipment. Arrangement of the "smart house" assumes the availability of operated components, which can be controlled by an intelligent system. Just it is a small device, which focuses on the processing of incoming signals from engineering and household equipment. Based on the incoming information, the controller will make decisions. "Smart home" can have a different content of the operated devices. In particular, it can be alarm systems of safety, lighting equipment, multimedia, engineering public infrastructure, etc. Depending on the number of objects subject to intelligent control, the program of the controller's operation is determined.

It is important to note the multicomponent functionality of such controls. Their main task is to manage the above-mentioned user equipment. However, to maintain the function of the controller itself, some of its resources are also allocated, not to mention the auxiliary modules. In addition, special attention is paid to the ways of communication when developing such systems. For example, GSM-controllers for "smart home" are equipped with special modems that transmit data on the status of the serviced components directly to the user through cellular communication. If we are talking about the management of security systems or engineering systems, in the event of an alarm or an accident, the controller can be programmed to inform special services. And the GSM system is not the only one thanks to which the remote connection with the owner of the house is realized.

Components of the controller

The basic set of functional components includes a central control cabinet, an additional control panel, a server computer, switches and modems. In the event of a power outage, an uninterruptible power supply is also provided, but most often it is calculated for a short-time outage, so it is not worthwhile to rely on it in a constant mode of operation. The central cabinet, in turn, contains an energy meter, an input circuit breaker, an operator panel, power contactors and a programmable controller unit. Sometimes switches of power lines, input-output modules, electromagnetic relays, the mentioned GSM-modem, etc. are also used. In this case, the set may have a reduced number of components, depending on what tasks the controller performs.

"Smart home" on the basis of a small cottage, for example, may not have I / O modules, if an optimal program of work is initially included in the control unit. Also, the reduction in the number of functional units may be due to the desire to optimize the resources required to maintain the operation of the complex. And this is not to mention the simplification of the system in order to provide user ergonomics in the process of operation.

Now it is worth considering the composition of the additional cabinet. Typically, it includes either backup backup systems that are already present in the main cabinet, or ancillary communications, as well as security systems. That is, its integration into the system increases the reliability of the functions that the "smart house" main controller implements. Equipment in this segment, for example, can be represented by means of network local communication, amplifiers and the same unit of uninterrupted power supply.

What are the tasks of the controller?

The range of tasks that a controller can perform is very wide and is determined only by the desire of the user who equips his home. Of course, this primarily applies to the management of electrical engineering and the components of engineering. The very idea of "smart houses" was once popular in connection with the desire of the consumer with the maximum convenience of using lighting systems. Modern controllers allow remote and automatic control of home and street lighting, as well as power supply in general. Already in basic configurations, the controllers for the smart house system are also oriented to the regulation of power supply for gas equipment, refrigerators, boilers, ventilation systems, etc.

In this case, independent control channels can be programmed in a separate order. This applies to the most important objects. For example, to control the "warm floor" often provide a line of complex four-zone control in several rooms. The same can be said about the security infrastructure, which is usually served by GSM-controllers for "smart home" with the ability to send SMS-messages to the user and to the security services consoles. Moreover, the notification can be simultaneously performed through the channels of wireless communication modules based on the Internet connection.

Principle of operation of the device

The general concept of intelligent management systems is based on the creation of automated control. That is, the complex is initially configured to independently manage the target components of the "smart house". Here it is important to note what exactly is meant by such management. This can be the setting of the boiler temperature, the "warm floor", the switching on or off of luminaires, the adjustment of the parameters of the audio and video equipment, etc. At the same time, the "smart house" controllers can work, that is, make decisions based on a pre-programmed program , And on the basis of feedback from the same equipment. In the first case, the user enters certain parameters of operation with the indication of logical chains. A classic example is the installation of street lighting to work at certain hours of the night and a full turn-off during the day.

In the case of processing feedback signals, the controller also operates according to the initial program, but decisions are made based on data that can vary depending on the current state of the equipment being serviced. For example, a boiler must store water at a certain pressure in the water supply system. From the pressure gauge installed on the water supply line, a signal with one or another indication is received and on their basis the system gives the inverse command to the electronics of the boiler. Another question is how useful the user will be to the command that the controller gave. "Smart home" is an intellectual system, but it may not meet expectations if the owner incorrectly calculated the mode of functioning in certain situations.

Controller "Aries"

As a basic solution, the company offers a PLC-100 modification controller, which can be characterized by the use of the Modbus protocol for organizing information exchange channels. The system is designed for servicing private residential buildings with two floors, street lighting, floor heating, alarms, etc. The main element of the complex is a logical controller connected to the operator panel and input-output devices via the RS-485 interface. That is, the "smart house" on the controller "Aries" of this version can be programmed by the owner himself at his desire. I / O systems are represented by an analog module MVA8 and switching devices from the INSYTE manufacturer.

The main menu of the operator has 6 control units, each of which takes on one of the slave segments. In particular, it is power supply, floor heating system, lighting equipment, temperature control means in different parts of the house, dispatching and event log. It is important to note that this is the same GSM-controller for managing the "smart house", through which SMS can be sent. The notification in this case will be performed in case of an accident in the street lighting power supply line, in case of malfunctioning in the supply circuit, etc.

Vera Controller

Today, a huge number of different controllers are available on the market, but experts recommend contacting manufacturers with extensive experience in this segment. And in this respect, the Vera family models have a huge margin of confidence, because the company has been on the market for many years. One of the newest solutions is the VeraEdge complex. The distinguishing features of this system include compactness, high performance and ergonomics. And the development stands out even against the background of the rest of the Vera line. The controller of the "smart house" in this version is attractive and a technological filling. The creators used a high-performance SoC platform, whose frequency is 600 MHz. At the same time, the amount of operating memory was increased to 128 MB.

The main innovation implemented in VeraEdge, is the chip system Z-Wave Plus. This is the fifth generation of the chip, while the majority of competitive analogs are still running on third generation platforms. What does this mean in practice? The user can use communication protocols with maximum load, while simultaneously serving more than 200 devices. In addition, the unit is equipped with a Wi-Fi module, which eliminates the difficulties with the organization of wired local communication lines. This is also a new solution, which so far can not boast controllers "smart house" from other manufacturers. True, not without the shortcomings of the system. Unfortunately, it lacks an integrated uninterruptible power supply.

Arduino Controller

The Arduino system offers a rather unusual, but quite logical solution for managing a "smart house". It is rightly called a complex, which is realized by own hands, since the user's participation in the organization of the monitoring infrastructure in this case is fundamental. So, what is offered in the Arduino package? The basis of the set is directly a logical controller of a small size, and the remaining components are represented by sensors, sensors and all sorts of indicators. When it was said that the number of components can be limited, then it was a little bit about other principles of shortening of elements, but the controller of the "smart house" Arduino brought the concept of optimization almost to perfection. Firstly, all its sensors operate on a wireless basis, which eliminates the need for multiple networks. Secondly, for the direct control of the controller, not traditional blocks with operator panels are used, but a convenient and modern web page that is also available as a mobile application. As for the sensors themselves, they are represented by devices that record energy consumption data, humidity and temperature parameters, opening doors, etc.

Controllers Siemens

German controllers are mainly associated with the automation of processes in the industry. However, recently appeared a very interesting line LOGO, in which the systems for the "smart house" are presented. The company in the development of these complexes adhered to the traditional direction, offering a two-component model at the output. The primary module forms the information I / O infrastructure, has a keyboard and a display. The second module allows you to work with the controller via a wired interface, that is, to download programs using a computer. For the independent development of operating modes the manufacturer also offers a special program - Soft Comfort. If the system is used as the central controller of the "smart house", then it is quite possible for it to create control algorithms and working schemes on its own. In terms of performance and functionality, the models of this family are flexible. The fact is that each version of the LOGO controller can be modified by introducing new subsystems and modules that will improve the operational quality of the equipment.

Advantages and disadvantages of controllers for the "smart house"

To the indisputable advantages of controllers of this type, it is possible to note the effective solution of tasks on engineering, multimedia and other home appliances management. Indeed, the intellectual abilities of even simple kits give a lot of advantages to ordinary homeowners, saving them from routine actions. As an example, just type a typical Ethernet controller. "Smart home" under its management by means of network interfaces is reduced to a single information panel through which the owner can monitor all the necessary performance indicators and data on the components being used. Of course, there are drawbacks to this kind of controllers. These include the complexity of technical implementation with connection and introduction to use, often difficult service and, of course, significant cost.

Conclusion

Although many potential users of control systems of the "smart house" are alarmed by their multicomponent and cumbersome, they have long been familiar with their individual elements. For example, electronics in modern boilers, refrigerators, acoustic sets and lighting devices often operate on the same principles. Moreover, many unknowingly make the same controller for the "smart house" with their own hands, when they install a security system on the sensors and the GSM module. Only if in the case of security systems the center is a panel that links, for example, motion sensors and smoke detectors, then the controllers under consideration serve the whole spectrum of household devices, which in principle are amenable to automatic control. Another thing is that the second option is more demanding in terms of power supply, more difficult to implement and operate.