9 Applications of IoT in Home Automation

IoT home automation refers to the capacity to use internet-connected equipment to operate household appliances. It might involve pre-programming complicated heating and lighting systems, as well as alarms and home security controls, all of which are connected via a central hub and operated remotely via a smartphone app. 

 

However, in this always-connected IoT home of mood-sensing music systems, smart lighting, intelligent heating and cooling, motorized blinds, and automated windows and doors, there appears to be little discussion about why consumers haven't unambiguously bought into the IoT home hype, or whether domestic life has improved as a result of it.

 

The phrase "smart house" was coined by the American Association of Home Builders in 1984, but IoT smart houses, or IoT home automation, became popular in the early 2000s. 

 

As several forms of less expensive smart house technologies emerged, smart homes became a more accessible alternative for customers. In 1966, the Echo IV, the first IoT home automation system, was created. 

 

It lets customers make grocery lists, adjust their home's temperature, and turn appliances on and off. The kitchen computer, which was created in the late 1960s and could also develop recipes, was never a commercial success due to its expensive price.

 

Typically, an internet-connected central hub manages all of the individual gadgets in an IoT smart home. The central smart home hub is then controlled via a smartphone app. It can be difficult to set up an IoT smart home: There are a variety of attachments that are only compatible with specific goods.

 

The term "home automation" refers to the automation of a home, often known as a "smart home" or "smart house." You can manage your gadgets such as lights, fans, and televisions through the IoT home automation ecosystem.

 

Lighting, temperature, entertainment systems, and appliances may all be monitored and/or controlled by a home automation system. Controlling your home devices is quite useful.

 

It will also include domestic security features such as access control and alarm systems. Domestic devices are a key component of the Internet of Things once they are connected to the internet.

 

Controlled devices are frequently connected to a central hub or gateway in a home automation system. The system's control programme may be accessed through wall-mounted terminals, tablet or desktop computers, a smartphone app, or an online interface that can even be accessed from off-site over the Internet.

 

Smart Home

 

Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology will pervade practically every aspect of our everyday lives, making us more comfortable and secure. By 2025, Statista estimates that there will be 30.9 billion active IoT connections. We'll look at the most common methods to use IoT technology in smart homes here. 

 

Our preferences for music, temperature, and lighting, as well as the times we get up, eat, and go to bed, are all known to smart IoT sensors. Smart plugs, lights, and security systems all contribute to making our lives easier. We don't have to worry about our home security while we aren't there because they are simply regulated using a smartphone app.

 

Also Read | IoT in Lighting - Applications and Sources

 

Applications of IoT in Smart Homes

 

We’ve listed some of the applications of IoT in Smart Homes below : 

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Applications of IoT in Smart Homes

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1. Lighting

 

Lighting in the house may now be adjusted automatically to meet the demands of the individual. For example, if people begin watching a movie, the lights may be set to decrease automatically so that they do not become distracted from the storyline. When you go inside your house, the lights may automatically switch on without you having to click a button.

 

When you leave your house, the system may automatically switch down the lights to save energy, so you don't have to. Your smartphone, laptop, and other linked devices can control all of your house lights. As a result, you may set your app to turn on your light when your alarm goes off in the morning.

 

2. Bathrooms

 

In the bathroom, IoT technology may make your daily routine more enjoyable and convenient. Smart mirrors may link to other devices such as computers and smartphones, detect the faces of family members in front of them, and show information that interests those individuals, such as news articles, weather forecasts, or specific websites. 

 

If no one is in the bathroom, special sensors can detect movement and switch off the water automatically. Smart shower controls may also recognise people and set their preferred water temperature and pressure, as well as limit the amount of time spent in the shower to save water. 

 

Users of automated jacuzzis may relax and enjoy their bath without having to manually modify their chosen temperature and air-jet regime, or pick their favorite music, because the app will manage all of it for them.

 

3. Gardens

 

Sensors may be quite useful for people who want to cultivate their own veggies, fruit, and herbs at home. Users may check on the app to see whether the temperature is correct, if the plant is sufficiently hydrated, and if it is receiving enough sunshine.

 

The software can track the present status of the soil, determine whether it has adequate moisture, and, if necessary, activate a smart irrigation system. 

 

The sensor recognises when the amount of moisture reaches the ideal level and turns off the watering system, preventing water waste. IoT technology has resulted in a true breakthrough in gardening, which will fundamentally change the way plants are grown in the future.

 

4. Kitchen

 

IoT devices can make cooking safer and easier by utilizing AI technologies. Smart sensors can monitor for smoke and carbon monoxide, as well as the temperature and humidity levels in your kitchen, to ensure that everything is in working order.

 

Special built-in applications keep track of whether the user has enough food in the fridge (and reorder it if necessary), offer recipe suggestions, and assess the nutritional worth of meals. Smart spoons, for example, urge users to eat gently.

 

5. Security Systems

 

Do you always double-check that the doors and windows are shut and that the TV, computer, and other electrical equipment are turned off before leaving your house? With the aid of specific sensors, smart security systems will do it for you.

 

When you leave the house, these controllers can lock the entrance, close the shutters, switch off electronic gadgets, and ensure that your home is safe from human and animal intruders. Users may use the app on their phones to check on their homes and manage the temperature, humidity, and lighting remotely. You may also keep an eye on your older relatives and assist them if necessary.

 

6. Safety Sensors

 

Safety sensors are intelligent gadgets that can detect when anything is wrong in your house. They can instantly alert users to possible hazards and even take action to avert them. They only need a smartphone with Internet access and sensors put in their house.

 

Temperature, humidity, and gas controllers can monitor the air in your house on a regular basis and give you notifications through the Internet if the indications are outside of the ideal range. 

 

Natural calamities, fires, water, and gas leaks may all be prevented with the use of safety sensors. If a criminal tries to enter your house, proximity and video sensors can detect it and instantly activate the alarm and alert the authorities.

 

7. Temperature Control

 

With temperature control automation, you can set the temperature in your house to the level that is most comfortable for you. Users may programme smart thermostats to manage the temperature based on their preferences and setups. These thermostats can detect your present activities and adjust the temperature as needed.

 

Users may, for example, use the app to automatically increase the temperature when they take a bath or shower. If they choose to work out, do yoga, pilates, or any other form of physical exercise at home, the temperature will drop to assist them stay cool.

 

8. Doors and Windows

 

Our future doors will not require keys. The smart door may utilize face recognition to unlock your home. Any visitors who are not recognised as residents must be escorted inside the building by a resident. The doors may also be set to open as you approach your house and close as you depart.

 

They can also set off a chain reaction in other gadgets in your house. The entry door may detect the authorized users and open, followed by the light turning on; other doors in the house may then open, and the TV and coffee machine may be switched on.

 

Smart windows can be programmed to respond to signals from other appliances as well as triggering events. You won't have to bother about closing the windows when you leave the house since the system will check for you and close them if necessary.

 

Windows can be programmed to close or open at specific times, and shutters can open or close based on the time of day. As a result, the shutters may be raised in the morning and dropped at night. Weather conditions such as rain, snow, storms, or severe winds can potentially trigger these devices.

 

9. Home Routine

 

The temperature in your home, the lighting arrangement, and the security system may all be controlled using Al and Ml technologies. The technology can provide you with news updates, locate information on the Internet, give you notifications via an app on the Internet about purchases you need to make, order you a meal, organize an appointment, and book you a trip or hotel.

 

You may also monitor the status of your home automation system from anywhere. As a result, you may use the app while out and about, visiting your parents or friends, to ensure that everything with your lights, security, and other Internet-connected equipment is in working order.

 

Also Read | IoT Applications in Daily Life

 

Working of IoT-Based Automation System

 

A complicated architecture underpins an IoT automation system, which comprises distant servers and sensors. The servers are cloud-based and can manage a large number of sensors at once. 

 

Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and Z-Wave may all be used to communicate with IoT sensors. A controller, often known as a hub or gateway, is the central component of the system.

 

It has an Ethernet connection to the home router. This centralized gateway is where the sensors communicate and receive commands. The connection is subsequently routed through the gateway to the cloud. 

 

This implies that all of the devices are linked and that a desired sequence of events may be programmed. This interconnection also allows for remote monitoring of IoT devices via an app.

 

The data is saved and kept in the cloud on the Internet, allowing you to access IoT devices from anywhere in the world. No matter how far away from home you are, you may always transmit orders to the hub. The hub delivers a signal to the sensors after receiving the order, and then the required action is performed. The hub then refreshes the device status to provide you the most up-to-date information.

 

The cloud network is connected to the hub through the Internet. In the regular schedule, you may arrange triggered actions and keep track of the modifications. The input is received by the cloud network, which then transfers it to the hub. The hub then transfers it to the sensor, which causes the action to happen. Following that, you will be promptly alerted of the system's new status. There will be no alterations to your smart devices that go unreported.

 

IoT Home Sensors for Home Automation

 

IoT sensors have the potential to greatly improve our quality of life while also making our houses safer. If someone is approaching your property, smart motion controllers can detect it. They may utilize the app to notify users of any invaders, whether human or animal.

 

When inhabitants leave the house at night and during specific weather circumstances, such as rain or storms, smart controllers in the network ensure that all the windows and doors are closed. 

 

With the aid of controls, you may adjust the temperature, humidity, and lighting to your liking. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be avoided with the use of carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke controllers aid in the prevention of fires in your house.

 

Also Read | IoT in Interior Design

 

The method of regulating house appliances automatically utilizing various control system approaches is known as IoT home automation. Various control mechanisms may be used to regulate electrical and electronic equipment in the house, such as windows, refrigerators, fans, lights, fire alarms, kitchen timers, and so on.