Antoine Savelkoul

In a series of blog posts about the domain of my home automation DSL I’d like to start by giving a first and high level description of the problem domain. I’m going to do this by explaining the current situation of my own home automation system.

Since, I have the intention to create a home automation system that will be suitable for a broad audience, the first step was to select – as much as possible – ready-to-use hardware available at DIY-shops, large retailers and the internet. The more expensive hardware has been selected for its multi-purpose.

Hardware includes:

·         A self configured Windows Home server running on an Intel Atom CPU. A Windows Home Server can be configured for a price as low as € 350,- when using for example an Asus EEE-Box.

·         Wireless switch units from KlikAan-KlikUit. (An introduction set with three receivers will cost less than € 20,-.)

·         RFXCOM transmitter. This will make it possible to control the wireless switch units from KlikAan-KlikUit and a lot of other manufacturers. The transmitter can be connected to a PC and costs around € 80,-.

·         LG 32 LH3000 LCD-TV, cost me less then € 450,-. It’s serial port makes it possible to control the TV by software at a PC or embedded system.

·         Network media players by Philips supporting UPnP. These days prices of media players that can be connected to the TV and support UPnP start at around € 100,- (e.g. the Asus O!Play). Some high-end TVs already have these players on board.

·         Wireless energy meters from PlugWise. With +/- € 35,- each, they are a little bit pricy, but they are very reliable.

·         Other equipment like USB Device servers and USB to serial converters used to connect equipment to the home network.

·         A HTC-Touch Diamond II mobile phone which has very interesting specs like a high resolution touch screen and WIFI.

All by all still a big investment, but to begin with home automation, you do not have to buy it all at once.

The image below shows how everything is connected.

The different hardware will have its own way to communicate. There are several Standards and protocols involved like ZigBee, RS232 and UPnP. Manufacturers however also use their own protocols based on for example HTTP.

In the next blog post I will explain how devices will interact with each other via software. Other posts that will follow will be about scoping of the domain and sub domains, other already available DSLs and choice of modelling software.

After moving to the apartment of my girlfriend and my and doing some jobs to make it our place, I recently took a week off to work on some of my ideas. One of the projects I started is a DSL for home automation and smart metering.  The goal of the DSL will be to simplify the way of building add-ins to support several types of devices like wireless switch units, energy meters and a/v equipment. This while maintaining a manufacturer independent architecture of the home automation system.  Thus far the results are promising. Within the next months, I hope to explain a little bit more of the approach I´m taking in my home automation.