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

2. 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.

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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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