iHabitat - A home automation, security and monitoring system

The iHabitat system consists of several nodes installed/placed around the house. Each node is capable of serveral functions. The functionality is catageoried into different groups: 1. Communucation functionality gives a node the ability communicate with other nodes or with the outside world (using the internet / phone line / SMS) 2. Sensor functionality enables a node to measure phyisical world parameters like temprature, power consumption etc. 3. Controller functionality enable a node to control equipment around the house. This can including switching on/off appliances, opening/locking a door. 4. UI functionality enable nodes to interface with the user using physical interface and virtual interface. A physical interface could be a LCD display, keypad, LEDs etc. Virtual interfaces include web / mobile based interfaces. 5. Storage functionality enables node to store and log data. Each node atleast one type of communication functioanlity. All nodes are capabable of communication with each other. Gateway nodes are capable of connection to the outside world over the internet, using the phone line or SMS. Bridge nodes are capabable of converting one type of commuication to another (e.g. WiFi to Zigbee). This page is a first draft describing the overall systems and what is expected out of it. Objectives: (1) Intelligence: iHabitat shall be able to take decisions on its own based on its learning from its user behaviour. (2) Easy to deploy and use. (3) Open source (4) Strong focus on communication within the network and to the outside world using the Internet. User interface: 1. Web based interface (remote administration and monitoring possible) 2. LCD based touch panels around the house (cost too high, only plain LCD displays for now) 3. Regular wall switches for lighting would still work, no need necessary use the interfaces mentioned above 4. Interactive voice based interface (not a priority right now) Communucation functionality: 1. ADSL for primary Internet connectivity, distributed across the house over WiFi, repeater to extend range. 2. Mobile packet data services (GPRS/EDGE) as backup internet Internet connectivity 3. Sensors and appliance connectivity over Zigbee (also to consider IP over IEEE 802.14.5 wireless PAN) 4. WiFi to Zigbee bridges for easy access to all appliances from the Internet. 5. Security alerts to be communicated over SMS and voice calls to predefined numbers 6. Some nodes of the system to have Infrared to enable the system to control appliances with IR remote controls. Sensor functionality: 1.Human presence detection based on PIR, ultrasonic, infrasonicm, visual sensors 2. Sensor network for indoor/outdoor temperature and electricity usage collection Security: 1. CCTV type IP based camera survillance system 2. Intruder alarm based on laser trips and PIR for secondary confirmation. Storage Functionality: 1. Solid state storage (flash memory) for all logs, records. 2. Critical information also to be updated to the Internet. Information updates from the internet 1. View RSS feeds on screens across the home 2. User able to set alerts for events (such as incoming mail) Power supply: 1 Electrical mains, some nodes to have UPS backup. 2 Small nodes to run on batteries and if possible on solar cells. 3 Battery Time synchronization: 1. From NTP servers on the Internet

Project topic :Controller Design and Implementation for a Smart Structure System

Vibration isolation is one of the most important issues in the development of smart structures to achieve
high performance of operation. It has historically been handled using passive techniques. However, the smart
structures continue to mature and require greater precision, the design of active control approaches will be
required to achieve desired performance levels. The Stewart Platform, consisting of a stiff active interface with a six degree of freedom, can be used to actively increase the structural damping of flexible systems attached to it.
Each leg of the active interface consists of a linear piezoelectric actuator, a collocated force sensor and flexible tips for the connections with the two end plates. By optionally providing the legs with strain or elongation sensors, the Stewart Platform can also be used as a vibration isolator. In this project, students are required to work together with postgraduate students on the following: (1) Understand and refine the models of the six loops, from every force sensor output to the corresponding actuator input using a frequency domain approach; 2) Based on the derived model, design controllers to achieve the required specifications and 3) Implement the controllers. Experiments are to be carried out to verify the system performance.

Alarm Pattern Analysis Using Computational Intelligence Approach

In today’s high value manufacturing, machines are often equipped with sensors to detect disturbances in
the system, which may trigger the corresponding alarm(s) when limits are exceeded. Apart from displaying on a
terminal for human intervention, these alarm values are also logged to a database. Machine faults or breakdown
may be characterized by a set of alarm patterns. The ability to detect these patterns early can help to alert and
prevent impending machine failure, which is extremely useful for mission critical machines. This project involves
the development of pattern identification concepts and algorithms based on computational intelligence approaches
to predict machine failures. Some of these approaches include Ant Colony System, Genetic Algorithm, and
Statistical methods.
Students with keen interest to learn computational intelligence for pattern recognition and those with knowledge
in manufacture equipment management will have an added advantage for this project