Mobile KNX: Design, development and analysis of a mobile network bridge for Domotic systems

In the last few years, the need to easily control the electrical devices has been manifested with more persistence. This is due to the increasing of energy consumption and the introduction of new concepts, such as green homes and building automation systems. To find a solution to this demand, several companies have focused on the development of infrastructure for remote management system of automation building applications. Based on well-defined protocols and systems for automation building structures, in the current market there are several applications that permit to clients to meet this request. However, it is still possible to improve their quality pushing on automation. Therefore, a central system for automatically processing and sharing the configuration data has been developed, leaving to mobile devices only the task to render it, in order to allow a client to control all the “smart” devices in an automation building system. This project has focused on developing an application that would provide a system of transaction between mobile and automation building world. In addition, a mobile application has been developed for several mobile operating systems and architectures. The work was completed with a testing phase, without the use of simulators, focused on ease of use and speed of access to its devices, which has shown the validity of this idea. The results obtained have given a new set of real data on which basing future developments and also a basis for a different approach to the proble

Process-Based Design and Integration of Wireless Sensor Network Applications

Abstract Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSNs) are distributed sensor and actuator networks that monitor and control real-world phenomena, enabling the integration of the physical with the virtual world. They are used in domains like building automation, control systems, remote healthcare, etc., which are all highly process-driven. Today, tools and insights of Business Process Modeling (BPM) are not used to model WSN logic, as BPM focuses mostly on the coordination of people and IT systems and neglects the integration of embedded IT. WSN development still requires significant special-purpose, low-level, and manual coding of process logic. By exploiting similarities between WSN applications and business processes, this work aims to create a holistic system enabling the modeling and execution of executable processes that integrate, coordinate, and control WSNs. Concretely, we present a WSNspecific extension for Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and a compiler that transforms the extended BPMN models into WSN-specific code to distribute process execution over both a WSN and a standard business process engine. The developed tool-chain allows modeling of an independent control loop for the WSN.

Direct Digital Control in Air Conditioning Systems for Energy Efficiency

With the rapid development of Intelligent Buildings (IB), the Building Automation System (BAS) has come to control and manage the equipment in the building more and more scientifically, economically and rationally, which can not only raise the function and the level of the building, but also save energy. At present, air-conditioning design in internal commercial buildings is becoming more complex and enormous. The proportion of air conditioning systems in the whole building is getting larger. In order to control and manage the air-conditioning systems effectively and take full use of energy-saving technology, we apply computer control to the system of air automation control. This paper discusses direct digital control (DDC) in the air conditioning system in buildings

Adaptive Control of IoT/M2M Devices in Smart Buildings using Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

With the rapid development of wireless communication technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) are becoming essential for many applications. One of the most emblematic IoT/M2M applications is smart buildings. The current Building Automation Systems (BAS) are limited by many factors, including the lack of integration of IoT and M2M technologies, unfriendly user interfacing, and the lack of a convergent solution. Therefore, this paper proposes a better approach of using heterogeneous wireless networks consisting of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Mobile Cellular Networks (MCNs) for IoT/M2M smart building systems. One of the most significant outcomes of this research is to provide accurate readings to the server, and very low latency, through which users can easily control and monitor remotely the proposed system that consists of several innovative services, namely smart parking, garden irrigation automation, intrusion alarm, smart door, fire and gas detection, smart lighting, smart medication reminder, and indoor air quality monitoring. All these services are designed and implemented to control and monitor from afar the building via our free mobile application named Raniso which is a local server that allows remote control of the building. This IoT/M2M smart building system is customizable to meet the needs of users, improving safety and quality of life while reducing energy consumption. Additionally, it helps prevent the loss of resources and human lives by detecting and managing risks.Comment: Accepted in IEEE Sensors Journa

Institutional smart buildings energy audit

Smart buildings and Fuzzy based control systems used in Buildings Management System (BMS), Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and Building Automation Systems (BAS) are a point of interests among researcher and stake holders of buildings’ developing sector due to its ability to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore this paper will review, investigates define and evaluates the use of fuzzy logic controllers in smart buildings under subtropical Australia’s subtropical regions. In addition the paper also will define the latest development, design and proposed controlling strategies used in institutional buildings. Furthermore this paper will highlight and discuss the conceptual basis of these technologies including Fuzzy, Neural and Hybrid add-on technologies, its capabilities and its limitation

IoT Platforms for Building Automation with Energy Efficiency and Comfort Concerns

It is increasingly common to work and live in buildings controlled by some system, the so-called Building Automation Systems, where to keep the levels of comfort and reduce energy consumption are very important requirements. These systems control from heating, ventilation, air conditioning, to lights intensity, with the goal of reducing energy costs and make the building occupants satisfied. However, these systems are usually proprietary and have high costs associated, due to the required equipment to deal with all the devices and the distinct communications. Therefore, our goal is to reduce reduce these costs, which is quite difficult due to the vast devices heterogeneity. In this dissertation, we implement a Building Automation System taking advantage of existing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. Thus, this thesis explores how IoT solutions can fit adequately into the scenario of building automation. To validate our technological choices and evaluate the adequacy of the chosen middleware, we made use of an existing case study of a room with multiple components and an aquarium as a subsystem. We have compared different IoT approaches and their impact on the energy consumption and occupants comfort. The results obtained helped us to realise that in fact there are several aspects that can be enhanced in order to reduce energy consumption and maintain occupants’ comfort. An initial investment in the implementation of these systems may involve different types of equipment and development effort to achieve the desired solution. However in long term, it is worth the effort and initial investment on these systems since they can actually reduce the energy consumption and guarantee good conditions for the room occupants

Development of a toolkit for component-based automation systems

From the earliest days of mass production in the automotive industry there has been a progressive move towards the use of flexible manufacturing systems that cater for product variants that meet market demands. In recent years this market has become more demanding with pressures from legislation, globalisation and increased customer expectations. This has lead to the current trends of mass customisation in production. In order to support this manufacturing systems are not only becoming more flexible† to cope with the increased product variants, but also more agile‡ such that they may respond more rapidly to market changes. Modularisation§ is widely used to increase the agility of automation systems, such that they may be more readily reconfigured¶. Also with globalisation into India and Asia semi-automatic machines (machines that interact with human operators) are more frequently used to reduce capital outlay and increase flexibility. There is an increasing need for tools and methodologies that support this in order to improve design robustness, reduce design time and gain a competitive edge in the market. The research presented in this thesis is built upon the work from COMPAG/COMPANION (COMponent- based Paradigm for AGile automation, and COmmon Model for PArtNers in automatION), and as part of the BDA (Business Driven Automation), SOCRADES (Service Oriented Cross-layer infrastructure for Distributed smart Embedded deviceS), and IMC-AESOP (ArchitecturE for Service- Oriented Process – monitoring and control) projects conducted at Loughborough University UK. This research details the design and implementation of a toolkit for building and simulating automation systems comprising components with behaviour described using Finite State Machines (FSM). The research focus is the development of the engineering toolkit that can support the automation system lifecycle from initial design through commissioning to maintenance and reconfiguration as well as the integration of a virtual human. This is achieved using a novel data structure that supports component definitions for control, simulation, maintenance and the novel integration of a virtual human into the automation system operation

Towards high-level fuzzy control specifications for building automation systems

UID/CEC/50021/2019. Grant: FCT/MCTES TUBITAK/0008/2014 FCT/DAAD - 2018/2019 (Poc. DAAD 441.00). UID/EMS/50022/2019. project TIN2015-73566-JIN and by the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria (accreditation 2016–2019, ED431G/08 and reference competitive group 2019–2021, ED431C 2018/29) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).The control logic underlying building automation systems has consisted, traditionally, of embedded discrete programs created using either low-level or proprietary scripting languages, or using general purpose fourth-generation visual languages like Simulink. It is also well known that programs developed in this way are hard to evolve, test, and maintain. These difficulties are intensified when continuous control problems have to be tackled or when the actuation must vary continually subject to the sensor inputs. Such is the case in day-lighting or occupancy-based control applications. In this paper, we propose a declarative high-level Domain-Specific Language that aims to reduce the effort required to specify the control logic of building automation systems. Our language combines fuzzy logic and temporal logic, enabling to define the behaviour in terms of domain abstractions. Finally, the approach has been validated in two ways: (i) in a case study that simulates the control system of an automated office room and (ii) by means of an empirical study to confirm usability (with a System Usability Scale questionnaire) and effectiveness, here regarded from the perspective of correctness, of the proposed language with respect to a well-known language like Simulink.authorsversionpublishe

IP Based Module for Building Automation System

Embedded systems technology has a lot of applications in the various fields of life to bring ease and comfort for humans. One kind of applications is in the development of modern buildings, where embedded systems are applied to the control system. Building Automation Systems (BAS) are often encountered in modern buildings today. They are responsible to automatically control the building appliances such as electrical equipments, fire alarms, security systems, and others. Conventionally, a smart home that can be controlled by an embedded system is connected to a central monitoring unit such as a computer. The system commonly employs RS232 or RS485 serial communication, so that the control activities cannot be carried out from a long distance. With the rapid technology development in the field of communication, many recent communication devices are practical and have a good performance. One of them is a device with the Android operating system that can access the internet, thus it has a significant role in simplifying the management of smart homes. This research proposes the design of a smart home that can conserve energy by turning off unneeded electrical appliances, detect disorders such as flood, fire, and theft, and also serve as an early warning system through SMS Gateway. It can be monitored and controlled remotely over the Internet by an Android device

Intelligent Approaches For Modeling And Optimizing Hvac Systems

Advanced energy management control systems (EMCS), or building automation systems (BAS), offer an excellent means of reducing energy consumption in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems while maintaining and improving indoor environmental conditions. This can be achieved through the use of computational intelligence and optimization. This research will evaluate model-based optimization processes (OP) for HVAC systems utilizing MATLAB, genetic algorithms and self-learning or self-tuning models (STM), which minimizes the error between measured and predicted performance data. The OP can be integrated into the EMCS to perform several intelligent functions achieving optimal system performance. The development of several self-learning HVAC models and optimizing the process (minimizing energy use) will be tested using data collected from the HVAC system servicing the Academic building on the campus of NC A&T State University. Intelligent approaches for modeling and optimizing HVAC systems are developed and validated in this research. The optimization process (OP) including the STMs with genetic algorithms (GA) enables the ideal operation of the building’s HVAC systems when running in parallel with a building automation system (BAS). Using this proposed optimization process (OP), the optimal variable set points (OVSP), such as supply air temperature (Ts), supply duct static pressure (Ps), chilled water supply temperature (Tw), minimum outdoor ventilation, reheat (or zone supply air temperature, Tz), and chilled water differential pressure set-point (Dpw) are optimized with respect to energy use of the HVAC’s cooling side including the chiller, pump, and fan. HVAC system component models were developed and validated against both simulated and monitored real data of an existing VAV system. The optimized set point variables minimize energy use and maintain thermal comfort incorporating ASHRAE’s new ventilation standard 62.1-2013. The proposed optimization process is validated on an existing VAV system for three summer months (May, June, August). This proposed research deals primarily with: on-line, self-tuning, optimization process (OLSTOP); HVAC design principles; and control strategies within a building automation system (BAS) controller. The HVAC controller will achieve the lowest energy consumption of the cooling side while maintaining occupant comfort by performing and prioritizing the appropriate actions. Recent technological advances in computing power, sensors, and databases will influence the cost savings and scalability of the system. Improved energy efficiencies of existing Variable Air Volume (VAV) HVAC systems can be achieved by optimizing the control sequence leading to advanced BAS programming. The program’s algorithms analyze multiple variables (humidity, pressure, temperature, CO2, etc.) simultaneously at key locations throughout the HVAC system (pumps, cooling coil, chiller, fan, etc.) to reach the function’s objective, which is the lowest energy consumption while maintaining occupancy comfort