Smart home automation

home automation(Home automation), refers to the building automation in the home, also known assmart home(smart home). There is also the name of Domotics in English. A home automation system can control lights, windows, temperature and humidity, etc. It may also include home security, such as access control or alarms.

^[1]Home automation has three main advantages:

1) Reduce environmental impact: Reduce energy and water usage by controlling window placement, utilizing natural light, ventilation or shading, ensuring that power and light are only activated when power and light are needed.

2) Improve quality of life: Smart homes provide proper heating, cooling, lighting and watering

3) Use automation systems in smart homes to save electricity and water bills and provide a sustainable indoor environment^[2].

When connected to the Internet, home devices become an important component of the smart network. A typical home automation system is connected through a centralized hub or gateway. Using a terminal on the wall, a smartphone, a personal computer, or a web interface as the user interface to control the system, it is also possible to achieve off-site operation through the network.

Although there are many competing manufacturers, there are not many common industrial standards in the world, and the smart home space is seriously fragmented.

^[3] Manufacturers sometimes prevent independent implementations through withholding documents and lawsuits.

^[4]The market value of home automation in 2013 was about $5.77 billion, and it is predicted to reach $12.81 billion in 2020.^[5]

At present, the platforms with the most users in the world are Amazon's Alexa, Google's Google Home and Apple's Homekit. In order to solve the problem of smart home fragmentation, Google and Amazon, Apple and Zigbee Alliance jointly launched the "Project Connected Home over IP" program.

Application and technology

According to Li^[8]The statement of et al. There are three generations of smart homes:

• The first generation: wireless technology with proxy server, such as ZigBee automation;
• The second generation: artificial intelligence-controlled electronic devices, such as Amazon Echo, Apple Homepod, Google Home, Xiaomi AI Speaker (Xiao Ai), Xiaodu Speaker, Tmall Genie;
• The third generation: robot partners that can interact with humans, such as Robot Rovio, Roomba;