Automation Technologies and Trends for Smarter Homes and Buildings Day 1 - Reasons, Benefits, Advantages & Disadvantages of Automation Technology 5/20/2013 By Jon Gabay

Automation Technology is around us now. We Use it Now Automation Technology is around us now. Discrete functions are automated that we take for granted. Traffic lights and traffic control systems. Doors on trains and subways. Climate control and ventilation in buildings. Discrete blocks of automated functionality can take us a long way.

Who Will Use Our Designs Residential Commercial Business Industry Elderly Handicapped Civic

Features Our Designs Can Offer Security Safety Comfort Energy Efficiency World Access Avoids Costly Damage Protects Your Investment 4

Already Reaping Benefits Timers on agricultural systems are saving water and trying to use it more wisely. Programmable and remote accessible thermostats are saving energy when no one is home. Motion detectors light our way when are hands are full and serve as deterrents to would be burglars. Higher level generators detect power outages, start, warm up, and switch in service automatically. Hot water heaters detect water temperature, switch power, heat, and shut off from a thermostatic switch. I even hear there are machines that wash clothes. 5

Islands Unto Themselves But, for the most part, automation technologies are islands unto themselves. They do what they do by themselves (or with very little intervention), and that’s it. They don’t talk to other appliances, the building, or the utilities. 6

There is so much more to do We are still at the infancy of automation technology. There is so much left to to do. Especially when structures get smart and so do appliances, sensors, and Human Interface Devices. 7

Automation Will Happen Homes And Buildings Will No Longer Be Dumb Structures Economic Factors will Drive the Adaptation of Automation to the Personal Level. Elements Underlying These Structures Will be Modular And Low Cost New Technology Will Be Used In New Structures And Retrofit Old Structures 8

It’s Been Tried Before?? Several major consortiums have tried to tackle the automation problem and failed to get any appreciable market share or potential market penetration. Echelon is one example. Backward approaches have resulted in buildings which cost more and are less energy efficient. Disjoint pieces of automation lacking in big picture functionality has frustrated would be customers. Power-line communications took us ½ way there. 9

Problems With Previous Attempts Unidirectional Data Transmission. Can not be used in true energy management applications Slow data rates. Not practical for sophisticated protocols. Random power up states. No power up sequencing. Cheap mechanical construction. Contact bounce, switch failures. Poor functioning on different power line phases. Not usable for three phase equipment. No intelligent conditional control. Dumb on/off/level commands. 10

How Most Automated Systems Work Automated Systems Can be : Timed Asynchronous Reactionary Sequenced 11

Examples of Timed Automation Functions Timed functions can be: Security Lights Sprinkler Systems Thermostats Ventilation Systems Event Recording 12

Examples of Asynchronous Asynchronous events can happen at any time, or, introduce a variability to the timed functions. Lights can turn on roughly at same time each night to give the appearance of occupancy. Entertainment systems can stagger and interleave on and off for same reason. Motion detectors can trigger un expected events. 13

Example of Reactionary Reactionary Systems are triggered by some event or stimulus, then respond in a programmed way. Motion detectors for lights Thermostats for temperature Dehumidifier for humidity Light sensors for Dawn/Dusk detect 14

Example of Sequenced Sequenced events merely do functions one at a time in sequence for some stated goal. I’m Coming Home – Lights, temp, airflow I’m leaving – coffee pot off, temp adjust, hot water heater off Quagmire – couch to bed, stereo on, bar appears, like old spy movies. 15

We are Facing some Roadblocks Benefits will drive integration but costs will limit it. In some cases, it will be mandated. 16

Things Have to Change Material Costs are Skyrocketing We can no longer afford to do things the way we have been doing it. Material Costs are Skyrocketing Installation and labor costs are high 17

Just Look at the Cost of Copper While the copper spot pricing has ups and downs and event driven reactions, the overall trend with all our resource based materials is that costs are and will continue to rise. 18

Simplify Installation and Reduce Costs As an example, the main power feeds can go to a single smart controller and not back and forth to remote switches. Lower cost, low voltage switches and control cables can be used improving safety, and providing more integrated user interfaces 19

Tomorrow We Will Discuss Challenges Holding us Back Unified Approach New Structures vs Retrofits Programmed Responses and Emergencies Control Point Limitations and Vulnerabilities Wired vs Wireless 20

Day 1 Questions and Answers Q&A Day 1 Questions and Answers 21