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The “intelligent home” offers plenty of hidden potential for
architects, contractors, building companies, and ultimately of
course for users. Similar to the configuration found in larger
buildings, all data points required for home automation are
connected directly to the Beckhoff Bus Terminal system. The
large number of different Bus Terminals enables integration
of all sensors and actuators, such as push-buttons for lighting
control, energy consumption metering, or a weather station
for recording climate data.
Local I/O stations are distributed throughout the home and
networked with the central PC Control via Ethernet. Control
tasks are handled by a CX series Embedded PC from Beckhoff
with the Windows CE operating system, for example. The standard
Ethernet network is used for PCs, telephones, home entertainment,
and as a bus system for building control tasks.
Building control functions can be displayed and operated
via Beckhoff Control Panels distributed throughout the house.
Messages can be retrieved via SMS, video, voice mail or e-mail
via a touch screen interface. On the software side, the TwinCAT
automation software is the core of the home automation
system. It can be used to configure a wide range of building
functions: For example, the „intelligent“ building enables different
basic scenarios for lighting, room temperature/climate
or background music for day, night, weekends, events, etc. to
be implemented.
Intelligent building control
The networked home offers not only comfort and convenient
operation. Cost reduction through optimisation of energy consumption
and security are other important considerations. The
Beckhoff control system supports to adjust the electrical energy
consumption according to external conditions. In conjunction
with occupancy sensors, the lighting can be switched off and
the heating control temperature reduced automatically at night,
for example. Lighting levels and temperatures can automatically
be adjusted to the actual weather conditions. Unlike in conventional
systems, not only the brightness is modified, but also the
colour temperature (depending on the time of day and personal
preferences), thus providing particularly pleasant living space
illumination.
When it comes to security, home automation also offers
a wide range of benefits such as automated access control or
simulated occupancy. When the occupants leave the building,
all specified consumers such as ovens or irons are switched
off automatically. The doors can be locked at night based on
a timer.
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