Domotics: characteristics, definition, architecture and applications

To speak of home automation is to speak of the future, given that its presence in society is increasing, which is logical! It offers many advantages, such as, for example, raising your roller blinds without even leaving the sofa. In this post, we are going to tell you in detail which are the characteristics of home automation and how it can improve your quality of life.

Definition of home automation

As we have already explained what is home automation In some cases, we will get straight to the point: it is a series of systems that automate the controls and actions of a building. To make it clearer, home automation communicates the user with objects connected to the Internet, which are part of the home. This is known as Internet of Things (IoT).

And what does home automation provide? From energy management to security and well-being.

What are the characteristics of home automation in a Smart Building?

The characteristics of home automation and, therefore, of a smart home are as follows:

• Direct communication between the user and the system.
• Information gathering. Through household objects.
• Remote control. The same monitoring and control possibilities available locally are also available from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.
• Ease of use. Just by looking at a screen, you will be fully informed of the status of your home.
• Consumption efficiency. Saving energy and water is possible by monitoring your resources and setting a consumption limit. In this way, you help the environment and your economy.
• Integration of control systems. Each part of the dwelling shall be easily visible through a control centre.
• Security. We are talking about specific functions to take care of your home, such as burglar alarms, security shutters or surveillance cameras.
• Flexibility. Home automation can be adapted to your different needs without any problems.
• Update. Updating the system is very simple.

And these are the most outstanding features of home automation!

Objectives of a Smart Building

We can classify the objectives of home automation as architectural, technological, economic and environmental:

And for these reasons it is said that home automation is the future.

Domotic applications and elements in Smart Buildings

For a house to is smart has to integrate the following elements:

• Sensors. They are all those devices that are responsible for sending information to a core. They can be of different types: optical, acoustic, pressure, etc.
• Actuators. They allow the activation of electromagnetic systems. For example, pushbuttons that drive electric motors.
• Control systems. This is the core with which decisions are made or commands are programmed.

With them, you can manage the heating, ventilation, lighting, etc. in your home. For example, you can install venetian blinds as they are raised and lowered according to the schedule you set.

Architecture

Such systems, depending on their functions or needs, may consist of three different types of architectures:

• Centralised architectureA centralised controller receives information from various sensors and, when processed, issues the commands.
• Distributed architectureThe intelligence of the home automation system is distributed throughout all its elements, be they actuators or sensors.
• Mixed architecturesystems are systems with decentralised architecture, since they have devices capable of obtaining and processing the information to transmit it to the other devices in the home.

If you want to know more, don't forget to read the advantages and disadvantages of home automation.

Conclusion

Now you know what are the characteristics of home automation and why this kind of technology is increasingly in demand in homes. As you can see, it offers energy and economic savings, as well as greater comfort in the home. Although we can also find home automation for hotels. In short, it is a system designed to improve the quality of life of all those who are in a building with Internet.