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What is home automation?

Innovation and intelligence in the home

Home automation makes it possible to automate tasks related to security, well-being, and comfort through a smart system installed in a home or building. In other words, it integrates technology into the design of a space.

One of the main advantages of home automation systems is energy efficiency. Automating air conditioning, lighting, security, or communication translates to significant savings in energy consumption. There is also an improvement in the quality of life of users who now have a home adapted to all their needs.

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What is home automation?

Home automation is the smart management of all aspects related to security, well-being, and comfort of a home or building. Through a set of technologies, different systems are automated, controlled, administered, and optimized.

Etymologically, the term domotics, a fancy name for home automation, comes from Latin and Greek. It is made up of the words “domus,” which means “home” in Latin, and “autonomy,” which means "self-governing" in Greek

Internet arrived to homes at the end of the 90s, taking the first step to bring home automation closer to reality. Some years later, smartphones appeared in 2007, which combined with the Internet of Things (IoT) make it possible to control functions of other devices from a cell phone. Currently, people use apps or virtual assistants based on artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as Siri, Google, and Alexa.

Illustration of a hand holding an interconnected modern city

Difference between home automation and building automation

When talking about automation installations, a distinction is made depending on where it is set up.

While home automation systems are installed in shared or family homes, building automation is reserved for properties such as hotels, shopping malls, work buildings, or hospitals due to their size and specific needs.

Characteristics of home automation

A smartphone being used to control a smart home

There are several automation systems and architectures to automate a home or building. According to the characteristics of the system, these can be:

Wireless home automation systems: They work with radio frequency waves and are easy to install given that they don't require any work to install wiring.
Wired home automation system: The signal is transmitted through dedicated cables, which guarantees that it's secure, efficient, and stable. The installation of cables may require some work.

According to the installation of the home automation system, the architecture may be:

Centralized architecture: A central controller is installed that receives information and processes and sends it to each device. This solution is usually used in wired systems.
Distributed architecture: The architecture isn’t centralized in one point, but it's distributed to all modules in the house that process information and execute commands. It's frequently used in wired and wireless systems.
Mixed architecture: Small devices are installed throughout the house to process the information and transmit it to the rest of devices. This type of architecture is usually used in totally wireless systems.

Applications of home automation

Home automation has several useful applications. The most important are:

Energy management: Energy administration is one of the most important applications of home automation and is based on three pillars:
- Energy savings: It makes it possible to reduce energy consumption by avoiding waste. For example, by turning off light systems in rooms when no one is in them.
- Energy efficiency: This means energy consumption is used to the maximum extent possible. For example, reducing the temperature set on air conditioning systems based on knowledge of the thermal inertia of the building, in other words, of how the temperature evolves inside.
- Energy generation and storage: It encompasses all devices responsible for generating or storing energy, such as solar panels.

Comfort: Home automation plays a very important role in people’s quality of life. For example, it makes it possible to automate repetitive and routine tasks in a home such as lowering and raising awnings and blinds. Furthermore, it adapts the space to the needs of the tenants, like when it comes to lighting or climate control.

Security: It makes it possible to create a security network based on prevention and detection that protects people and their goods. For example, by controlling the status of doors, windows, or sensors in or outside the home.

Communication: Home automation technology facilitates the connection of the home with a large number of media, making it a more interactive space. From a mobile app, you can access the different controls and execute actions remotely.

Accessibility: Home automation guarantees universal accessibility in any environment. Through voice-actuated systems, actions can be carried out to meet the needs of the users of the home.

How does home automation work?

Having a smart home is quite easy. To do this, the user needs to have a home automation installation (wired or wireless) and Internet connection in the home. This will allow them to connect all appliances and devices in the home to the Wi-Fi network to send and receive information throughout the system.

All these devices communicate with the home automation system, where the control panel is. Users can configure the software options to meet their needs, although this already includes many pre-established tasks such as turning on or off home appliances, lighting devices, etc.

Advantages of creating smart buildings with home automation

Home automation plays a key role in the development of smart cities given that their smart buildings require a management system to control automation processes in real time. It provides advantages at different levels:

Architectural advantages

Greater control over resources

Increase in construction value

Comfort and security of tenants

Environmental advantages

Energy savings

Development of sustainable cities

Smart grids

Solar home automation to control the energy production depending on consumption needs

Technological advantages

Improves interaction between the home and tenant

Devices are connected and communicate with each other

Automated installation

Cost benefits

Savings on the final energy bill

Reduction in maintenance costs

Useful life of all electronic devices is extended

Benefits of having an automated home

The automation system of a smart home integrates all elements into the same network, which allows the user to take control and centralize the equipment with a single installation. The main benefits of having a automated home are:

Energy savings and efficiency: A home automation system makes it possible to design hourly programs to ration electrical loads of devices, disconnect plugs that aren't in use, etc. Furthermore, the system creates electricity consumption reports to optimize it.
Simplicity and commodity: Process automation facilitates the tenants' daily routines. For example, the air conditioning, raising and lowering of awnings and blinds, and watering system can be programmed, so users don't have to worry about these tasks.
Voice control: Tasks can be asked to be executed using the commands intended for this purpose or via a voice assistant. This makes it possible to send commands to any connected device, saying for example "turn off the lights in the living room" or "make a coffee."
Prevention and reduction of damages: Home automation technology warns of any type of leak, whether it be gas or water, thus preventing domestic accidents. Furthermore, as it is part of the same network, it's possible to find out the status of home appliances to perform maintenance tasks and extend their useful life.

Examples of home automation

Home automation can be applied to multiple fields or areas. Let’s look at some pioneering examples:

Smart hospitals and farms

Smart hospitals

Home automation technology improves patient stays and facilitates the work of health professionals. Thanks to building automation, the general conditions of a room can be monitored in real time (lighting, call bell, motion sensors, pressure sensors, curtains, and bed lamps). Additionally, professionals can control different aspects of the building from a monitoring system such as temperature, supplies, and monitoring of the patients.

Smart farms

The integration of home automation contributes to sustainably increasing productivity, balancing food safety needs, and managing ecosystems and landscapes more efficiently. For instance, surveillance camera systems and security equipment reduce risks of theft, fire, and floods, in addition to allowing certain tasks to be reviewed remotely. Process automation such as the control of supplies, lighting, or watering leads to energy savings and, in turn, a reduction in operation costs.

Smart materials and TechLab

Smart materials

In Repsol's three-dimensional smart structures project in collaboration with TactoTek®, we have developed a new polypropylene-based material. It could be considered a recyclable smart plastic that's lighter than current polycarbonate solutions. It has various applications such as exterior car parts or home automation installations in which the smart material is used to manufacture devices and comprehensive solutions needed for the home installation.

TechLab

The aim of Repsol Technology Lab, our research, development, and innovation center, is to provide sustainable solutions to achieve a more efficient and competitive business with lower emissions. For example, in one of our latest projects we have specially developed an energy management system (EMS) for companies that operate with consumer assets, such as air conditioning, based on environmental data. The reason? To increase energy efficiency and reduce electricity bills.

Discover the Repsol Technology Lab