Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Cloud-Powered Home Automation System

Abstract

In just a couple of years, the home environment has rapidly introduced network-enabled intelligent digital technology. A synergy of these technologies such as intelligent lighting, entertainment (audio and video), security, heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the home for the automation of control and monitoring activities within that home is typically known as Home Automation today. The Home global home automation market size was approximated to be about USD 45.8 billion in just 2017 and is projected to reach as high as USD 114 Billion at the tail of 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 12.1% in this forecast period [1]. North America is projected to emerge as the leading region in the global landscape during the forecast period, but West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon are generally seen to have a much lower adoption rate when it comes to emerging technologies like these. The low adoption rate is due in part to the high cost of implementing a home Automation solution coupled with the general economic state of these developing countries. The interest and investment of the tech industry within the countries also play a role in this context. This paper explores the design and implementation of a relatively less costly cloud-based home automation architecture built partly on open-source technology and widely available resources. The solution was realized using a raspberry pi as the field gateway and primary controller. Arduino Uno microcontroller were used as the secondary controller. The highly robust Microsoft Azure cloud was used, enabling the representation, testing, deploying, and managing applications and systems and services on the cloud and at the edge. In demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed system, three systems were integrated: intelligent lighting, basic access security and remote monitoring. These would be monitored and controlled by a simple mobile app whose communication with the field devices is made possible through the Microsoft Azure IoT solution.