Home automation and monitoring (HAM) system with webpage interface

Abstract

The smart home products bring convenience to consumers in many aspects. However, the available products in the market are expensive which does not benefits majority consumers. The project aims to design and implement a system that is affordable for general consumers. Arduino is an open-source computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board. Having the advantage of available libraries, many devices can be interfaced using Arduino. It can be programmed via simple programming environment with AVR C programming language. Arduino boards are relatively cheap microcontrollers, which creates an opportunity to implement relatively low cost Home Automation and Monitoring (HAM) systems. The system will be implemented low cost Arduino boards, together with various functional shields, sensors and actuators. The main and auxiliary microcontrollers will form up a wireless communication network. The auxiliary microcontrollers will interface with sensors and actuators for customised needs. The HAM system is expandable by having the flexibility of using different auxiliary microcontrollers, sensors and actuators. The user can interface with the HAM system via a main webpage written in HTML with CSS and JavaScript. SMS will be used as back up interface to monitor and control the system.