A physical model of a smart home using the Internet of Things

Abstract

A smart environment consists of three elements: automation facilities, a network, and intelligent control. This paper describes a project in which a physical model of a smart environment was created, connected to the Internet, and controlled by a rules engine. The physical model has facilities to sense various conditions such a temperature, light levels, whether windows and doors are open or closed, and whether or not there is an occupant in the room. This information is transmitted to a rules engine which would then decide on actions to take such as turning lights on or off, turning heaters on or off, and turning an air conditioner on and off. Through the creation of the physical model research questions were postulated and experiments conducted to determine if the Internet of Things can enable and facilitate the network requirements of a smart home. It is found that the Internet of Things as enabling technology can facilitate the creation of smart environments.