Idratek are well understood for their work in building intricate wise house systems whilst reducing the complexity for the user. Director, Karam Karam takes us with a recent assisted living installation that has lessons for all house automators…

Significant house automation installs tend to be seen as the protect of the device enthusiast or in the context of costly properties with high-tech kitchens as well as floor to ceiling glazing. Deployment for assisted living or care of the elderly is much talked about however practical implementations thin on the ground. sure you may discover any type of number of restricted technologies being utilized in this area, from medication reminders to movement sensors which may for example alert relatives about unusual levels of activity, however full blown house automation I believe is still a rarity.

Why is this? most likely since of the understanding of what house automation is as well as exactly how it has a tendency to be used. commonly the focus is rather more on manage than automation – providing individuals with ever more practical (and sometimes complex) methods of accessing appliances in the home, from a remote thermostat to illumination that can be managed from a touch screen. In the context of assisted living these simple features can be useful however perhaps not compelling sufficient for a full install, particularly likewise for a considerable part of the prospective client base who may discover it a bit daunting to be dealt with with an array of innovation to manage a few lights or constantly change their heating.

IDRATEK has long been understood for its emphasis on automation as well as the wish to reduce individual interactions rather than boost them, so perhaps it wasn’t as well surprising that this innovation was selected to be installed in a little flat occupied by an elderly relative, whilst this was undergoing refurbishment work. This article is not just about the innovation however likewise ideally provides some insights from client feedback.

Starting off with the set up itself: The residential property comprised a moderate 2 bedroom flat with an open plan kitchen area diner as well as adjoining lounge. As is usual these days not much space to swing the cat, nor to in shape big racks of equipment. nevertheless the remit was not to skimp on features as well as to accomplish a properly automated as well as integrated result. To this end, as well as especially since hands free audio communications as well as audio messaging to the occupant were thought about important, quite much all spaces (including bathroom) were primarily fitted with IDRATEK panel style DFP-H02 modules. These provided the audio functions, regional individual interface, as well as most of the sensors as well as actuation abilities necessary for different automation tasks.

Heating

Even though just a little flat, the heating (from a gas terminated condensing combi) was to be completely zoned. Old radiators were replaced with newer higher output units enabling quicker response when needed as well as in the lounge a single long horizontal system was replaced by two wise vertical units – improving warm distribution, reducing ‘dead furniture space’ as well as increasing power output capability. Looked nice as well . Each of the 7 radiators in the residential property was managed via electrically actuated valve heads handled by 2x IDRATEK QRI-002 relay modules. By virtue of he DFP units every space already had at least one temperature sensor to enable completion of its comments loop. An SRH-002 relay module provided the warm demand signal to the boiler. The kitchen area furthermore incorporated a floor level plinth heater to assist cosy up the floor area on chilly winter days. Its blower was linked to IDRANet utilizing a close-by DRH-002 relay module. since this was a combi regime no manage of hot water was incorporated beyond that offered by the boiler system itself.

Ventilation

This was restricted to automating the bathroom extractor fan. fan power was managed via an XRM relay accessory connected to the bathroom DFP module. temperature as well as humidity data relating to its manage were originated from the DFP system itself as well as likewise from a multi sensor module found in the ceiling . Why two sensors? In this situation the ceiling sensor was providing extra movement info from angles blocked by a big glass shower screen. It was likewise a much better location to determine humidity levels. Cortex is no complete stranger to improving data high quality with several sensors, so there is no considerable commissioning charge when additional hardware is added in this way.

Lighting

Lights in the passageways, lounge, dining as well as kitchen area areas were to be dimmable. A mix of down lights as well as pendant lights was utilized as well as the 7 individually dimmed circuits were handled by2x QLD-001 dimmer modules. Lights in other spaces were just to be switched. This was accomplished utilizing XRM accessory modules connected to regional DFP units (and utilising existing illumination wiring). extra independent manage was provided for kitchen area system illumination with two circuits linked to relays on a regional DRB-002 module.

Security / Protection

Again by virtue of the DFP modules as well as one or two extra smaller modules, PIR protection was provided in all areas. In the lounge an off the shelf corner install PIR was linked into a digital input on a DFP module as well as powered off the IDRANet supply to provide protection at angles not visible to the DFP module itself. All doors were fitted with common magnetic reed sensors which linked easily via short wiring runs to digital inputs on the nearest IDRATEK module. two 12V smoke sensors with interior battery backup were linked to digital inputs. Their main supply once again originated from IDRANet. A ceiling install PLH-001 module in the kitchen area area provided localised PIR as well as light level sensing however likewise a temperature sensor for quickly detecting abnormal temperature signals in the cooking area. In truth quite much all temperature sensors in the residential property were configured to provide over temperature/rate alerts. utilizing gadgets for several functions as well as to provide redundancy is of program one of the benefits of house automation systems as well as Cortex makes it especially simple to do this.

Electricity Metering

A set of 5 off the shelf pulse count output meters were linked according to all mains circuits at the consumer box, including extremely usefully the separate circuit serving the electric cooker. Pulse output signals were just linked to unused digital inputs on the regional QRI modules serving the radiator valves.

Externally

IP cameras, illumination to front as well as rear, an illuminated door bell push button, as well as an outside multi-sensor module were all linked in to the IDRATEK system. As was an off the shelf alarm box (sounder as well as strobe).

Node Zero

A little under stairway cupboard served as the place for the notional node zero. right here was put the IDRANet intelligent power supply unit. The 2 illumination QLDs as well as the 2 radiator valve QRIs together with a 24V supply for the valves were likewise put here, in a little metal enclosure similar to that of the power supply.

Also in this area a number of other ancillary products were located; such as the Cortex PC platform, the PC/IDRANet interface module, a couple of further little modules dealing with the alarm box as well as the cupboard light, a modem, router as well as little Ethernet patch panel. Although not associated to the IDRATEK system part of the remit was to include several Ethernet as well as telephone points around the flat as well as add a few additional mains sockets ‘whilst the electrician was at it’. all of the devices was ‘boxed off’ with lots of area to spare in nothing more attractive than a little IKEA ‘Billly’ book case.

Commissioning

The Cortex floor plan as well as module commissioning were brought out before fitting the modules. perhaps testament to DRATEK’s integration philosophy is that in spite of the complex interacting automation features which are explained below, the commissioning process was a fairly simple task – immediately endowing introduced objects with connections to others as well as implementing different automation features without hours of explicit programming. In truth after physically fitting the modules it took less than a day to get the whole system up as well as running, checked, as well as prepared for use. more detailed adjustments to some parameters such as light level thresholds as well as heating set point profiles were brought out after the system had been running for a while in order to associate much better to installation specific conditions. After the preliminary set up the system was revisited remotely on event in order to take account of further individual demands as well as feedback.

Features

The whole function of this set up was to provide a practical as well as comfortable atmosphere for an elderly person who had no affinity for technology, as well as likewise to provide peace of mind for their carers. With ever increasing costs, energy effectiveness was likewise a valued function though it was not to jeopardize comfort.

So exactly how has the automation fared?  Perhaps one of the most instantly noticed features was the illumination automation. It took the occupant a bit while to get accustomed to the concept that they did not have to touch buttons in order for the lights to switch on as well as off under appropriate light level conditions – other than in the bedroom when retiring for the night. In truth it was more the ‘off’ part that they felt suspicious about since the ‘on’ part occurred more quickly than they might reach for a button! Inthe early days It was like the traditional fridge light situation where the occupant would close a door to a space as well as believe that the light had stayed on since when they next opened it the light was obviously ‘still on’ … Unlike the fridge it was of program simple to show them with the logged data as well as via mobile gain access to that the light was indeed changing off as well as just quickly changing on when the door was opened.

What may be thought about a minor however nonetheless valued function was the automatic reduction of illumination levels in the passageways overnight. That is, when the occupant needed to see the bathroom not only did the illumination along their path promptly switch on however it likewise came on at a non-blinding level.

In terms of general comments the occupant, who unfortunately suffers onset dementia, reports that they sometimes still question if the lights go out when they leave the home or close doors. On the other hand they remark on exactly how they are still in awe when they see the lights in the fairly open plan lounge-kitchen-diner gracefully fade off soon after they have vacated an area. “How does the system know?” One thing we have noticed throughout the years is that when you get into the realms of pervasive automation mental factors begin to have more importance than the capabilities of the innovation itself. For example, based on the above we thought about the concept of providing some comments on lights changing off in some rooms, perhaps with a spoken message or a noise specific to that light, purely for reassurance. This would be simple to achieve, a simple connection or two in Cortex, however in truth the occupant has declined this for the moment as well as I believe I can comprehend why.

In so far as the heating is concerned the occupant is living completely hands free. Although temporary nudge up/down controls are offered the occupant has never utilized these. since the preliminary set up the set point has been fine tuned sometimes as a result of occupant comments however mainly to enhance cost savings in areas as well as at times where it ended up being apparent from accumulated data that there was more margin than at first estimated.

The primary comments from the occupant to date has been: the bedroom at first being as well warm overnight (profile appropriately adjusted) as well as that on event when having a nap in the living space they felt they would get a bit cold. At very first we wondered whether the occupancy sensing was failing however after looking at the data we might see that this was not the situation as well as it was just down to the natural reducing of body temperature when the occupant was inactive. We have since thought about introducing an automated temporary upward modification based on understanding that a space was occupied as well as activity levels extremely low. however for the time being the occupant felt that the additional energy expenditure was unwarranted as well as they’d rather just pull over a light cover when they selected to nap. It is fascinating to note that visiting relatives at such times would comment that it was really as well warm… When sometimes requested comments about the performance of the heating manage the occupant seems surprised – ‘I don’t know… I don’t truly believe about it… its always comfortable’.

Despite the emphasis on comfort as well as it being a little house as well as occupied most of the time, we quote energy cost savings have been in the region of 10% so far as well as can most likely be improved further. 10% may noise like a moderate figure however of program it is based on genuine data as well as mainly perhaps reflecting the impacts of zoning, though the occupant commonly forgets or perhaps doesn’t like to close doors to unused rooms. A gentle spoken reminder from the system based on ta delayed space unoccupancy signal has been considered, however once again for mental reasons this has not been deployed as yet.

Day to day security features are largely invisible to the occupant as well as mainly configured to produce alerts to the carers. As explained above, smoke sensors as well as several temperature sensors are configured to send out SMS as well as e-mail alerts to relatives under abnormal circumstances. home occupancy specify is likewise relayed by e-mail. The unoccupied security tracking (you may phone call it ‘alarm system’) is immediately as well as quietly armed when the occupant vacates the residential property as well as for this specific person is immediately disarmed with very little fuss by means which cannot be discussed here. Under the armed specify the system effectively reduces the sensitivity of the movement detectors in order to reduce prospective for false alarms – keep in mind that in an IDRATEK system PIRs normally requirement to react extremely qu