Hacking a PIR motion sensor for use as a triggering device. Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm (BRAD) Control Windows Media Center with Your Voice. DIY Voice Activated Home Automation. Voice recognition is no longer in infancy – You’ve got Siri on the iPhone and Google Now on Android (plus other Android apps too). This project shows you how to use it to automate your home without spending big bucks. The core of this project is a VRBot speech recognition module. Next, the project creator used some low-cost wireless light switches (you could also use relays). The VRBot speech recognition module recognizes 32 custom voice commands. Popular Home Automation Projects: Voice Controlled Home Automation. Home automation server with router. Install the Linux based OpenWRT firmware on the router. The TL-WR741ND instructions can be found here: If you are stuck, start here: After you have a working SSH connection you can proceed. Because of the router (by default) runs the web admin page on the port 80, we need to add a secondary port to serve our custom web site.
For that, we need to configure the uhttpd (web server application) configuration file. Download WinSCP, to simply do this through SSH. Set up a new connection: Host name: normally 192.168.1.1 (by default) Port: 22 User name: root Password: what you gave after installation File protocol: SCP Find this file: /etc/config/uhttpd Copy the following into it: config 'uhttpd' 'secondary' option 'listen_http' '81' option 'home' '/HomeAutomation/www' option 'cgi_prefix' '/cgi-bin' option 'script_timeout' '60' option 'network_timeout' '30' And save it. Transform Your Digs into a Home of the Future, DIY-Style. Clever fellow sends text messages to start his car. Stop it, Spiegel. You're bringing back repressed memories of earning my 5-year EE degree.
Arduino has its place. If you need to rapidly prototype something or fire off a one of a kind item where packaging isn't a concern; it is a decent go-to. If you need ultra low power consumption you can use something like TIs MSP430 line, which are available with built in wireless. If you need power, there is always the ARM M0 line, If you need USB support, atmel makes a few nice critters. The world consists of more than Arduino, but I'll be damned if the Arduino doesn't do a lot of the jobs well enough.
If you are developing a commercial product, stay away from the Arduino. Turn a Cheap Router into a Home Automation Server. Make Your Own Star Trek/Supermarket Automatic Pneumatic Door.