The series of posts on domotics, prepared by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company from Belgrade, continues with the story of thermoregulation and air conditioning systems. Check out previous posts on this topic here.

Numerous types of devices and systems control the temperature, air flow and humidity in closed space. The heat transfer fluid can be air, water or gas, while the terminals themselves can come in form of radiators or panels, thermo convectors or fan coil systems.

No major alterations to the building infrastructure are required when during the installation of a domotic system of thermoregulation into your space – it is enough to install thermo programmers, sensors and actuators. As we have mentioned before in this series, the main advantage of domotic systems comes from the intelligent communication between different devices.

However, the most fun and certainly the major benefits of including the air conditioning system into the home automation system are achieved by the communication with the other subsystems – sensors that detect presence or absence of persons in a room, the closing or opening of windows and such, setting the basis for a physical type of event driven programming. An increased number of persons in a space will trigger a system that cools and ventilates the air during summer, while the opening of windows will automatically turn off the air conditioning to save energy and so on.

The system’s ability to intelligently handle the weather data, comparing it to the inside conditions is the spine of the entire communication. The updating of the weather conditions and adapting the air conditioning system accordingly is simply not possible in a conventional system.

The remote control of the HVAC systems and the real-time updates of all the parameters are possible through the standard internet protocols, a phone, a tablet, a computer or the wall touch panel.

We will also mention that the quality of air, which is defined by levels of ventilation and carbon-dioxide, is often included in the control systems and is regulated by ventilators and air filters.

It goes without saying that well-designed systems are completely adapted into space and in no way compromise the aesthetics of the space: they are purposely positioned to best suit your dynamics, rhythm, the function of the room, but also the changing weather conditions.

HVAC is a separate engineering discipline, with a rich past and an exciting future. If we wanted to explore it into detail, we would need to exceed the needs of this text. It is good to know that, like in many other areas where domotic solutions can apply, the number of possible HVAC solutions is very high and varied – whether they are applied in the existing infrastructure and solutions, or if the building is still in the design phase, the home automation systems can be successfully implemented, taking into consideration the limitations, the budget, the type of HVAC system, the design requirements and the space purpose.

The authors of the text are Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD. They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.

Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.

The third text in the series of posts on domotics, prepared by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company from Belgrade, deals with air conditioning, heating and cooling with application of contemporary domotics systems. If you missed some of the previous posts, you may find them here. 

Air temperature, humidity and the velocity of air flow are the key parameters that define the level of comfort and the degree of pleasantness. The automatic systems that generate artificial climate conditions in our homes and offices have evolved immensely during the past decades forming two distinct groups. Building automation is a term that refers to a distributed system applied to the building as a whole. It is a well established field deeply rooted in the tradition of large building and hotel automation with robust solutions. On the other hand, home automation or domotic solution usually applies to a single appartment or house, but their flexible structure enables them to be applied to entire buildings.

The field of HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) is responsible for generating the first impression that an individual makes when entering a condo, house or business space. The first thing that we are going to feel – whether it is hot or cold, if the air is stuffy or fresh, the level of humidity – that is exactly the output of the system that we are about to discuss.

Waking up in a pleasantly heated apartment, with the bathroom temperature slightly higher than in the rest of the flat or coming home on a snowy day to find your driveway cleared and dry. Returning home after a hot summer day and the feeling of the cool, fresh air inside. Having the heating or air conditioning turned off automatically and letting the fresh air fill the space if the weather is nice. Instant malfunction warning if something is wrong with a radiator or the air conditioner, by email or a text message: These are just some of the possibilities of a well-designed HVAC system.

Let us discuss the principal characteristics of the systems:

HVAC systems can be divided into groups of parameters that can be controlled:

Heating/Cooling – controls only the temperature;

Thermal ventilation – controls the temperature and the flow (speed) of air;

Air conditioning – controls and maintains certain values of three variables – temperature, air flow and humidity.

It is clear that the efficiency of controlling each of the parameters depends mainly on the design of the system, but also on the quality and the type of the controller itself. Additionally, each HVAC solution entails certain issues that have to be addressed – how to visually fit the system into the interior and not disrupt the architect’s vision, how to make the investment pay off (which is much easier if it is part of a bigger automation system), with the maximum reduction of costs and respect of the designed solutions.

Temperature monitoring has to be followed by the thermodynamic space modeling and has to take into account thermal inertia, to provide relatively simple algorithms of timed control in cases of longer absences from the space, as well as the possibility of remote control.

Still, the main advantages of including the HVAC system into the home automation solutions, like the comfort, and can be fully appreciated only when the monitoring of the energy consumption is taken into account. Such systems provide constant cost control, enable significant savings and are the best and the most efficient way to prevent failures of the system.

BUS technology systems (especially KNX systems) enable a very simple activation and monitoring of all the parameters and the application of different regulation algorithms – it is enough to install smart meters that are able to communicate with the KNX protocol and actuators that will perform the given commands sent to the HVAC system. Such intelligent systems can control the floor and wall heating, heat pumps, floor and ceiling fan coil systems and boilers, with optimal performances that meet different criteria – comfort, energy savings and reduced pollution.

The authors of the text are Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD.  They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.  

Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.

In the second sequel of the series of posts on domotics, prepared by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company from Belgrade, we further investigate the advantages of application of contemporary automated systems in your home. If you missed some of the previous posts, you may find them here. 

Savings = Money

The essence of this concept is in the uniqueness of the ambience and its change, which only an automation system can continually provide. However, the story of the light does not end here. The amenities of domotics solutions are the various simulations of presence in those periods when the space is empty (according to the USA statistics, an extremely efficient burglary deterrent) – the periodical turning on of the (low consumption) lights and, if necessary, the sounds, proves to be an efficient and a very sophisticated anti-burglar system. The reassurance that the building, especially a business space, is additionally protected and that every unexpected movement is recorded and instantly forwarded at the desired phone numbers and emails is a definite advantage of such systems.

Light control systems from different locations and devices give a totally new dimension to a home or business space, and combined with the regulation of natural light through automated blinds and the angle at which the natural light enters a space, you get an effective solution, impossible to obtain without a domotics system.

Create you own system which will make your space unique and of superior quality at an affordable price.

Protect Yourself, Your Loved Ones, Your Home, Business Space or Holiday Home

I am sure you all know the situation- the plumbing bursts in a kitchen or a bathroom, either because of old installations or sudden temperature drops. A flood, irreversible damage to the floors, the walls, to the neighbors’ apartments, having to redo everything…

The solution- install the flood sensors on the plumbing systems. Instant information will be sent to the user via email or a text message with the possibility to automatically shut down water supply. One less thing to worry about.

Domotics gives you the best and the most beautiful alarm integration. Presence detectors, adequately and discreetly built into the interior have a double role- when the space is empty the sensors are burglar alarm systems and instantly send you the information about any unauthorized access.

If somebody rings the intercom or at the door, you get the picture or a video to your phone, computer or a tablet. The next time you go on vacation, really leave all your troubles behind- everything will be all right- the plants will be watered according to the schedule, at night certain lights or TV simulators will be turned on, and just before you return the space will be ventilated and brought to optimal temperature with minimal energy consumption.

Video cameras, motion detectors and alarms, adequately integrated and always available on a phone, a tablet or a computer give you the possibility to virtually monitor your holiday home or some other space during longer periods when you are not physically present. Stay calm and peaceful because the price of the whole system usually does not exceed the price of damage one unlucky incident can make!

Dynamic, Fast and Economical

You own a flat or a house where you can not spend as much time as you would like. The best and most efficient way to make the moments spent in your space better, nicer, more comfortable, but also more efficient is to install a home automation system. Change the scenery in a few seconds – at a push of a button change your work setting, dominated by your desk, into an inviting party space- the lights will momentarily go into the dimmed mode, some lamps will be turned on or off, perhaps a shade of light will additionally underline the music that will be played everywhere, except maybe in spaces you want to exclude. The ability of the house to instantly transform and suit different needs – from a modern office to a comfortable home and back- perfectly matches the fast and intensive pace of life of a modern professional.

Without a home automation system a space is simply not complete.

There is really no need to burden a curious homeowner with many laws and regulations, and some very interesting concepts, such as the green constructions, let us just say that in the nearest future the development of our space will, although not necessarily at the same pace, follow the constant improvements to your phone.

By installing a home automation system you are buying a ticket to the future of living – it is to be expected that in the next years the integrated home control systems will catch on significantly.

By connecting different technologies into a compact and reliable system you achieve not only a higher level of comfort, beauty, efficiency and simplicity of living – by connecting all components, the whole space becomes intelligent and enables different systems to communicate. The shades and windows will be synchronized with the HVAC systems, all in sync with the lights, big energy consumers will work during lower tariff hours, and certain events, such as walking into a room will trigger specified sequence of events.

We finally come to the essence and the question we have been trying to formulate in this text – What are the main reasons to install a home automation / domotics system in your house, business space, apartment or a holiday home?

Significant improvement of the quality of life and the feeling of comfort

Enabling some new and unique aesthetic and dynamic space solutions

Superior performance, energy efficiency, time-energy-money-saving solutions

Safety, protection of our dearest, security, being informed at any given moment

Control in the real sense of the word – creating an intelligent habitat at your own measure

The authors of the text are Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD.  They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.  

Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.

This is the first text in the second series of posts on domotics, published by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company from Belgrade. In the coming weeks, we will be dealing with topics such as heating and climatization, lighting and shading, audio systems, access control, energy savings. If you missed some of the previous posts, read them here. 

It’s a strange thing, that perspective. What may seem perfectly clear to someone standing at a certain point, becomes blurry or altogether hidden for someone observing it from just a few feet away. When we set out preparing the material for the Home Automation Manual the idea was simple- to make an overview of a field, which is, in all its complexity, an interesting mix of science and modern technologies, from the point of view of an architect, an interior designer or of the client. We have covered some of the basic points, such as protocol, design techniques, energy and time-saving methods, the optimal time to introduce home automation… In short, we have tried to answer the questions what, when, how, where, how much?

The next few pages will try to answer some of these questions, but we will all change our point of view a bit- we will take a few steps backwards and try to see this interesting and dynamic construction, the field of domotics, from a different perspective.

Comfort and a (Much) Higher Quality of Living

The first and foremost reason why one should consider introducing a domotics system into their space is the comfort. Simple as that. Comfort is not an easy thing to define – it is a personal and highly individual feeling of pleasantness brought about by internal and external stimuli. The Italians, probably the best known for giving this category more thought than some other nations, define comfort through the feeling of beauty (aesthetics), the minimizing or the absence of physical effort, feeling of pleasantness, acoustic or visual feeling of pleasure.

The feeling you get when staying in a ventilated space, with no stuffy air, in the appropriate temperature, humidity and air flow- the base of any well-designed air conditioning system, is easiest and best controlled by a home automation system. Besides the evident energy savings, it is clear how pleasant it is to have an intelligent system, which, to make it more obvious, one morning says: Though it’s the end of October, it’s a nice and warm morning, so I’ll open the blinds, turn the heating off completely and let in a lot of fresh air. If it starts to rain and the skies go dark, I’ll just condition the humidity, draw blinds a bit and turn on some background light until the storm passes. There are so many similar scenarios, which to us humans seem very simple if-then sequences, which we perform as reflexes at regular intervals.

Bring Light to Your Stage

Every true enthusiast or interior design professional will tell you, regardless of personal taste that the light is what gives the soul to a space, which makes it unique and special, which enables it to breathe. Adjusting the light to a situation, the weather conditions and the function of the space, and above all the possibility to change and adapt the light is something virtually impossible to achieve without the elegant domotics solutions.

Turn all the lights on at a single switch! Turn them off before you leave the house and be sure that they will stay turned off until you or someone from your family comes back in. Set the stage for a working environment. Adjust the contrasts in the living room. Use light and shadow play to emphasize the parts of the space that you want. Make the light dynamic – let it follow you through the space.

The authors of the text are Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD.  They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.  

 Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.

Why Couldn’t an Electrician Do It?

The architects and contractors most commonly look for electricians when they consider installing a domotic system. However, a vast majority of electricians just isn’t able to design, integrate or program intelligent home automation systems.

The electricians, especially the old-school type, are simply not qualified to configure distributed audio, to get the maximum out of the video system, ventilation system or to understand the sophisticated software that controls the entire house system. To entrust an unqualified person with a home automation system is far more serious than to get the neighbor’s boy to repair your laptop or to let your cousin redesign your home, just because she is good with colors.

Expensive Mistakes

And while we have already analyzed the advantages of domotic systems, the price you pay if the system is not configured properly, is steep. The complexity of integrating so many different systems creates many potential problems:

The system does not work properly. A badly designed or integrated system will not function properly and in many cases even the homeowners’ safety may be compromised.

There is no true integration. A well-integrated system requires a minimum of control devices and units. The presence of many control units mounted on the wall is a clear sign of sub-par integration. The control must be intuitive and straightforward.

Deadlines not met and cost blow-outs. Bearing in mind that so many contractors need to be coordinated, even the slightest mistake in project management can lead to costly delays.

Compromised aesthetics. A smart home cannot look like an electronic showroom – the components need to be seamlessly integrated into the space aesthetics.

To work with a domotics designer is not much different from working with an interior designer, an architect or any other similar professional. It is a person able to identify the client’s desires and needs, analyze the building’s plans, design a detailed solution for a domotic system and recommend the best equipment. In order to achieve the optimal results the domotic system should be designed and programmed by an expert in home automation. The process does not end with programming the control software and integrating properly all the devices, but it also has to ensure that all the client’s aesthetic and environmental criteria are met.

The procedure

The following part will explain the most commonly accepted procedure of designing and installing a domotic system into home and business spaces.

1. Defining the Scope of Works

Defining the scope lies in foundations of any successful home automation project. Seeing that domotics is a relatively new and unexplored area, the investors and homeowners are often unable to see the advantages of the newest technology. It is necessary to lay down the system performance in different fields. A domotic system designer should present the client with all the possibilities, starting from the requirements, but not stopping there. After presenting all the possibilities to the investors, a detailed specification needs to be prepared, including the available budget, space aesthetics, functionality, energy efficiency and future technological needs.

It is of the utmost importance to separate from the beginning the costs of installation and of the system itself from the costs of electronic components (local network, audio in all the rooms, home cinema and similar).

2. Design and Documentation

The design and documentation requires a close cooperation between client, architect, contractor, interior designer and other people involved in order to produce documents that meet the needs of all parties involved. This is obviously a critical phase in which projects often become stuck.

A domotic system designer goes from room to room and thoroughly discusses the possibilities with the interior designer, the architect and the client. Only then the functionality of each room becomes fully defined and adequate electronic equipment can be suggested, to meet the designed criteria. All systems of the building need to be involved in such detailed planning-plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems, interior design and others, in order to lay out properly the electronic infrastructure and control devices.

This should finally result in a set of documents that includes:

Specification of electrical installations;

Electrical layouts including power points, telephones, heating, pumps, fans, air conditioning and others;

Electronic systems layouts: audio-visual, home theatre, security, access control, CCTV, etc;

Communications layouts including internet and telephone;

Lighting layouts including zoning, switching and switch plate design;

Cable routing locations, space detectors.

The existence of such unique documentation is often essential, in order to avoid many problems that may arise if the designers work with different specifications.

3. Selecting an Electrical Contractor and Cable Layouts

The selection of an electrical contractor will depend mainly on the specification designed in the previous stage, all the more reason to make the specification as precise as possible. Previous experience is necessary and the ability to perform the specified work.

If the documentation is well-prepared, the electrical contractor will proceed to install the infrastructure: electrical, lighting, audio and video, communications and data cabling.

4. Project Management

When building a smart space, a vital factor is an open communication between different parties involved, since it is a complex process in which every step needs to be monitored.

5. The Choice of Components and Products

The final choice of certain components is usually made by the owner of the space during the construction – the choice of an audio and video system, the security system and others. At this stage we can define the final costs of these subsystems, although the components themselves are often bought at the very end. This enables the client to buy the newest systems, preferably at a lower cost, but also to get a much clearer idea of the specifications of the components used in his space (the screen size, number of control units, position of the speakers and similar).

When the final choice is made, the components are bought and installed and at this stage the space is ready for handover.

6. Handover and Tuition

When all the components are installed and programmed, the space is ready. The home automation designer explains how to operate the finished system. Since the essence of a well-designed place is simplicity, this should not be too demanding. A properly designed system is intuitive and the user should need a brief period to adjustment. You should also allow some time for fine-tuning, in which the designer may return during the following weeks to refine the system to meet the client’s needs.

Domotics From the Point of View of an Architect

How the times have changed recently! It used to be enough to draw a chandelier at the centre of the room and a couple of lamps at the bedside tables. The electrical installations, even in a simple flat, have undergone a radical change- the space users’ appetites have grown, but at the same time, so have the possibilities of the systems themselves, says the Italian architect Giovanni Del Zanna, known for his work in domotic solutions for the elderly, in his article on domotics.

An architect today should at least be acquainted with the multidisciplinary approach which is a smart space. With domotics, the information technologies have left the computers and are spreading throughout the living and business spaces. Del Zanna rightfully notes that domotics is not the possibility to automatically perform certain functions in space, but it is the ability to control the entire space, with all the amenities that this approach offers. Just like with time, we have got used to living with computers, controlled by an operative system, and attaching different peripherals to it (mouse, printer, scanner, projector), we will also get used to living in a space where electric installations become the system which connects different components and devices (actuators, electro engines, cameras, lights, heating, ventilation).

Breaking the direct connection between a switch and a device (light, air conditioner or other) and replacing it with a software connection opens a new horizon of ever evolving possibilities. The possibility of programming which involves sensors, time and space defined scenarios creates a different type of problem: too many possibilities. Leaving aside the costs, it is clear that the possibilities of domotics are virtually limitless and greatly surpass the “demand” for services by space users. That is why, according to Del Zenna, the key question an architect has to make is – What use do I have from domotics?

From the point of view of a space users and their needs, bearing in mind how easy it is to control the systems, the security, quality/price ratio and other important aspects, it is clear that there are relatively simple and cheap quality solutions out there, but there are also the others- which charge their performance by complexity of user interface. The role of an architect in this case is double: they should be able to inform the client on the possibilities that the system offers on the one hand, and on the other to give the system designer sufficient information about the client needs. Therefore the role of an architect is central and crucial: they are the intermediary between the world of users and the world of technology.

The biggest real obstacles to introducing a domotic system are gradually disappearing- the price of a system is constantly falling, while the communication infrastructure is getting faster and stronger, and the KNX protocol is promising, at the European level at least, that soon even the standards will not be an obstacle. What remains are subjective obstacles, and they are mainly limited to informing a space user, but also the architects themselves.

This is the third one in the series o texts on this topic, published by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company form Belgrade. A comprehensive overview of domotics is prepared by Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD.  They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.  

 Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.

The essential difference between a traditional electrical installation and a domotic system lies, above all, in the degree of integration. It is possible to achieve certain functionality even with the traditional systems, but solely using separate components, without any true integration. The coordination of such subsystems usually implies unacceptable costs, but also a low level of efficiency, as well as safety and comfort.

Figure 2.1: traditional installation system

On the other hand, domotic systems are designed to satisfy different functionalities, and most importantly, to be able to interact between different components. An example of that is a simple presence detector which works on the principle of infrared radiation (PIR sensor) which, in a traditional system, has a limited function when the alarm is on, while it can also be used in an intelligent system as a motion detector when the alarm is off, and can perform such functions as opening doors, turning on the lights and other. Certain infrared sensors can measure the light in the room and can also be programmed to turn the lights on if it is dark.

In a classic electrical installation a physical circuit connects a switch or a button directly to the powerline, for example, the light. This means that each variation in the power consumption or the subsequent addition of functionality requires some changes in the system of power cables. In an integrated system, on the other hand, a logical circuit converts an event, like pressing a button, sends a signal to a single or a group of actuators, that perform the action, such as turning on the light.

Basically, every interaction between the user of the space (via a domotic system) – whether it is direct, like pressing a button on a wall or on a panel, or indirect, such as entering a room or a change in the temperature due to an open window, could activate one or more actions (scenarios). In this way the connection between the events and the subsequent action is no longer limited to the physical cable between the devices, but solely to the information that the devices exchange.

Figure 2.2 Domotics system- separation between the powerline and the information channel

The separation of information from the action could seem unnecessary – in case of controlling only one light we need two devices instead of one, but if you look at a complex system with more appliances, the situation changes drastically. Also, to add functionality (to a device) there is no need for a change in the existing cables, but generally it is sufficient just to change the system’s programme. Due to this fact, it is advisable to design a system bearing in mind the possibility of such upgrades.

Figure 2.3- Difference between a traditional switch and an actuator

Comparative analysis of domotic and traditional systems

ADVANTAGES

Traditional system
lower price of devices;
technology known to all electricians- no explanations needed.

Domotics
increased flexibility: the system is defined by the configuration, not by the cabling;
one device can have several functions;
simplified wiring system: all connections, except between the actuator and the power are at low voltage, which decreases the possibility of a fire and simplifies the structure of the fire alarm system;
low costs of changes to the system;
the possibility of remote control.

DISADVANTAGES

Traditional system
poor flexibility;
need for many devices, which adds to costs;
higher cost of materials, labour and cabling;
increased need for fire alarm systems;
the risk of users getting into contact with power lines;
costs vary unpredictably during construction;
none or very difficult possibility of remote control.

Domotics
costs of devices slightly higher;
the technology still relatively unknown to many contractors, the need to illustrate the advantages to the clients.

This is the second in the series o texts on this topic, published by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company form Belgrade. A comprehensive overview of domotics is prepared by Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD.  They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.  

 Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.

It is very hard to define an area which is developing and changing so fast as domotics. Like for some other similarly dynamic fields (IT and others), the available information is often incomplete, not up-to-date or completely wrong. The additional problem is the absence of a uniform standard, together with the need to present it to the client, who is, by definition, focused entirely on costs, neglecting almost completely the technical aspects, such as communications protocol and others.

This series of articles is the result of an effort to create a panoramic overview of the field of domotics which would give the reader (architect, engineer or client) the notion of the basic concepts of technology. Getting to know the principles and technical possibilities of this technology, should help clients through the plethora of available products, but also with the evaluation of the different suppliers.

We shall try to present the overview and short history of domotics, with specifics and differences from the traditional home systems, we shall briefly describe the communications network, the architecture of the connection routes and basics of the communication protocol. In the final parts we shall focus on the European standard KNX-the architecture, the devices and system configuration. Domotics- the smart home concept

The needs of the modern homeowners are constantly changing and are undergoing a process of evolution, following the rapid technological advances, especially in the past ten years. Before we look back at the technology itself, we should tale a look at the way homes have been changing- during medieval times, home were almost completely empty, with rare pieces of furniture, while today, it is very hard to find adequate space for any new object, even in big apartments, especially of they are some type of electrical equipment- there are power and communication chords, modems, routers, decoders, sound systems and others.

Parallel to the introduction of the modern lifestyle is the transformation of the traditional electrical appliances into complex integrated systems, primarily thanks to the introduction of the electronic components.

Such integration brings about radical changes to the concept of a device or system- the information canal is separated form the actuator, therefore the data obtained form one sensor are no longer pertinent to the originating device, but are shared within the whole network (of the apartment or the building).

This transformation of the logic of the system enabled the possibility to eliminate the isolation of individual devices and subsystems installed in the building and opened the possibility to have new functionality, which would be unthinkable if we should rely solely on the traditional technology.

The demands of the space users are constantly growing, but so are the specifications of the new buildings, primarily for environmental, energy consumption and security reasons. The regulations relative to property construction and design of different built-in systems aim to reduce pollution, rationalize the use of energy and it is clear that to meet these demands we have to introduce the intelligent space, capable of controlling the comfort (defined and quantified in a certain, prescribed way), guaranteeing safety, low energy consumption and meeting the need of the elderly or other groups.

The very term that we prefer, domotics, comes from French neologism domotique, in fact derived from Latin word domus (house, building, home) and French automatique (system control) and is literally translated as the automated home. Besides this term, the common nomenclature is smart house, smart home and home automation.

To put it simply, domotics is the area that studies the technology designed to improve the quality of life, enable the communication between the traditional subsystems already installed in the building and the new components, with the aim of achieving new, modern functionalities. What lies in the base of this multidisciplinary field is the ability to connect electrical wiring, electronic systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, alarm systems, fire alarm systems, multimedia, space detection, control of windows and shades and similar systems.

A building with such integrated system enables the control through adapted interface (switches, touch screens, remote controls, speech recognition, biometrics and others) via a computer unit that can be with central or divided functionality. Different components of the system are interconnected and connected to the control system through different types of connections (for example by BUS). Such system enables the execution of user commands (from simple ones, like switching on or off the lights, opening or closing of shades, up to the complex scenarios conditioned by the weather, the user identity etc.), the constant monitoring of variables such as the temperature, humidity, energy consumption and others, the automated regulation of parameters, as well as sending certain signals of necessary, and providing remote control services. The systems are usually able to inform the user via audiovisual signal (LED diode on the switches, graphic elements on the touch screens or tablet computers, sound signals), and there is also a possibility to communicate with the system through the Internet protocol, the text messages or email.

If the concept of domotics is raised to a higher level- the level of the whole building, we talk about the so-called Building Automation, or the automation of a building creating a smart building, with modern technologies being able to control the technological installments (air conditioning, heating, ventilation, water, gas and energy distribution, security systems), information networks in order to provide flexibility, comfort and high standard of living and working in such a building. Unlike domotics, building automation is much more mature and with a standardized, stable offer and demand, and we will discuss it later in detail.

It is important to emphasize that domotics is no longer a discipline reserved for researchers or scientists; today it is available for wide variety of users, although they might require some support.

The current situation in this field, according to many studies from countries of Western Europe, the USA and Australia is specific: many potential users of smart spaces are instinctively drawn to modern solutions, but very often, after some consideration, conclude that is unnecessary and give it up. This is a very important aspect, definitely confirmed by all studies and research performed in the past ten years – a poorly informed end-user, but also architect and contractor, is a major obstacle. Logically, the first and most important step in overcoming this problem is the right information about advantages and disadvantages and specifics of domotics solutions. This is also the main goal of these articles.

The engineers themselves, unfortunately, are not of great help with this problem; usually they have met or been trained to work with only one type of equipment of one of the manufacturers, which imposes limited solutions and diverts them from considering other possibilities. Since one of the main goals of domotics in the future period is to make a technological standardization, but also to standardize everything else within the four walls (offices, hotels, flats, companies, schools), it is clear that all factors on the market should enable, though their goals and interests, above all the adequate valuation of the field.

This is the first in the series o texts on this topic, published by The Centre for Architecture Belgrade in cooperation with Cubo Control company form Belgrade. A comprehensive overview of domotics is prepared by Radiša Jovanović, PhD. and Marko Aleksendrić, PhD.  They are experienced mechanical engineers, whose field of expertise covers programming and design work, through intertwining of various technologijes.  

 Cubo Control is an engineering and programming studio that loves technology, automatics, Italian design, but also programming of computers and other devices: from window shades to mobile phones, from basement temperature to ship engines. It is founded with the idea to provide a unified offer of high-quality solutions at affordable prices in the field of contemporary automatics, especially domotics and industrial automatization, through careful selection of high-class equipment and affirmation of state-of-the-art concepts of comfort and energy efficiency.