Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
IN THIS CHAPTER you will be creating some home-automation projects to make your
home environment more intelligent and provide you with the foundational knowledge to
further the automation of your home. A key part of home automation is being able to inter-
face with sensors. his is something that the Raspberry Pi is very good at. here has been a
recent explosion of cheap and reliable sensors available to the DIY enthusiast, and combined
with the small form factor of the Pi, its high processing power, network connectivity and low
cost, it makes the Raspberry Pi an ideal platform for the DIY home-automation enthusiast.
Home automation can be distilled into three categories: control, alert and monitor. During
the course of this chapter, you will create ive projects covering each of these categories.
In this chapter you will not be making use of PiFace, which is used in other chapters in this
topic. You will interface directly with the GPIO ports of the Raspberry Pi using male-to-
female jumper wires (described later). If you have to remove your PiFace, remember to
always power down the Raspberry Pi before disconnecting (or connecting) anything to the
GPIO headers.
The Internet Of Things
he Internet Of hings (IOT) describes the rapidly expanding phenomenon of connecting
things to the Internet. Network connectivity and IP addresses are no longer just used to con-
nect computers. Increasingly we are seeing everyday appliances and sensors connecting to a
network, providing us with real-time information from, and control over, those devices. he
IOT is an emerging technology, so as it matures and interoperability standards are developed
it will become easier and cheaper to connect devices to the IOT which will have a positive
impact on home owners wanting to automate their environment. Again the Raspberry Pi has
a role to play in connecting devices cheaply to a network. As you work through this chapter
you will be contributing to the rapidly expanding network of things connected to the IOT.
Project 1: How to Create a Motion Sensor
and Door Switch
In your irst home-automation project you will create a motion sensor and door switch.
Motion sensors and door switches allow you not only to create alarms or alerts, but also to
monitor low and movement throughout your home. Using the information created by these
sensors, you can apply rules and actions using Python. For example, you could turn of a light
in a room if motion is not detected for a period of time, or send an e-mail alert to yourself if
Search WWH ::




Custom Search