xsensors: theindranet phase 1 summary

Purpose:

Based on:

Context:

Implementation:

Status:

Serious issues:

#1 issue (w openhab main code) = main openhab UI refresh scrolls page, essentially rendering any related code useless for any serious applications

limited sensor definitions (i.e. handful of sensors like temperature, reed switch, ultrasonic rangefinder)

limited data-handling options (i.e. reports to openhab and can send xmpp instant messages, though no pre-defined setup for other actions such as email notifications yet)

limited to no error catching for many parts of the setup and library code

see below for larger to-do list

The Code:

create stable modular code platform for arduino sensors to communicate via RFM69 radios and MQTT protocol to OpenHab server. Arduinos sense events (e.g. doors opening, people moving, garage doors closing, doorbells ringing) and transmit these events to gateways (a pair of arduinos). The gateways then send event data to a server (e.g. raspberry pi) that updates a website (OpenHab-created) with sensor changes. A user-created configuration file defines sensors used.Eric Tsai's home automation code ( instructables page related forum ). Tsai's code accomplished the bulk of what is described above. Modifications include consolidating the code into a class structure and adding the user-defined configuration file which is processed by a setup script.In general, open source software and hardware are superior to their closed alternatives for many reasons including: privacy/security, modifiability, and incentive to innovate upon. The easier it is to use open components, the better off we'll be. Making the code easier to use for new users to this space should help this. With specific respect to arduino sensors, a significant amount of coding and tinkering is required to bring a sensor network online. Increased modularity in related sensor code should decrease necessary coding. The classes and setup scripts herein also define part of the platform for subsequent phases of theindranet (the primary impetus for this project).a setup script generates arduino and openhab configuration files from a sensor library and user-defined configuration file to set up a wireless sensor network.prototype. Works with a small set of sensor types with limited user interface options defined through the configuration file. Testing has been limited (with raspberry pi debian server and desktop ubuntu server running both openhab and mqtt).