Home Automation, The Internet of things.

This is the first episode in a new series called Home Automation. The series is open to anyone and I encourage everyone to contribute.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_automation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Home automation or domotics is building automation for a home. A home automation system will monitor and/or control home attributes such as lighting, climate, entertainment systems, and appliances. It may also include home security such as access control and alarm systems.

The phrase smart home refers to home automation devices that have internet access. Home automation, a broader category, includes any device that can be monitored or controlled via wireless radio signals, not just those having internet access. When connected with the Internet, home sensors and activation devices are an important constituent of the Internet of Things ("IoT").

A home automation system typically connects controlled devices to a central smart home hub (sometimes called a "gateway"). The user interface for control of the system uses either wall-mounted terminals, tablet or desktop computers, a mobile phone application, or a Web interface that may also be accessible off-site through the Internet.

Now is the time

I tried this out a few years ago, but after a lot of frustration with configuration of esp32 arduinos, and raspberry pi's I left it be. Recently inspired by colleagues in work, I decided to get back into it and my initial tests show that the scene has much improved over the years.

Youtube Playlist

• The Hook Up, RSS
• Home Automation Guy, RSS
• Everything Smart Home, RSS
• Smart Solutions for Home, RSS
• Smart Home Circle, RSS
• Smart Home Junkie, RSS

Home Assistant

The first thing we'll need is something to control it all. Something will allow us to control our homes without requiring the cloud.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Assistant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Home Assistant is free and open-source software for home automation, designed to be an Internet of things (IoT) ecosystem-independent integration platform and central control system for smart home devices, with a focus on local control and privacy. It can be accessed through a web-based user interface, by using companion apps for Android and iOS, or by voice commands via a supported virtual assistant, such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, and their own "Assist" (built-in local voice assistant).

The Home Assistant software application is installed as a computer appliance. After installation, it will act as a central control system for home automation (commonly called a smart home hub), that has the purpose of controlling IoT connectivity technology devices, software, applications and services from third-parties via modular integration components, including native integration components for common wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, and Z-Wave (used to create local personal area networks with small low-power digital radios). Home Assistant as such supports controlling devices and services connected via either open and proprietary ecosystems as long they provide public access via some kind of Open API or MQTT for third-party integrations over the local area network or the Internet.

Information from all devices and their attributes (entities) that the application sees can be used and controlled from within scripts trigger automation using scheduling and "blueprint" subroutines, e.g. for controlling lighting, climate, entertainment systems and home appliances.

Summary

• Original author(s): Paulus Schoutsen
• Developer(s): Home Assistant Core ...