Faculty Science and Technology

Department Information Security and

Assurance
Course SKJ1033 Digital Electronic Computer
Home Appliance control System (HACS)
Asadullah Sharifi

1132425

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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this project is to have a smart home and develop an android
application to control home appliances wirelessly. A microcontroller Arduino
used to control home appliances after receiving an input from the user
through the mobile application. The application adapt in smart phones and
tablets using androids operating system. The medium of communication
between the smart phone and the microcontroller is Bluetooth module. The
project can be used in homes and hospitals. This technology is also called
assistive technology, it enables disable or elderly people to perform daily
activities without requiring assistance form others. Furthermore, the user
interface of the mobile application is very simple and user friendly, hence,
they face no difficulties while using the mobile application.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
Page
TABLE OF
CONTENT ...........................................................................................................
........II
LIST OF
FIGURES..............................................................................................................
..........III
1.
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................
...................1

1.1.

Preamble.............................................................................................................
..........1

1.2. Problem

Statement ......................................................................................................2
.

1.3. Project

Objective .........................................................................................................3
.

1.4. The proposed

solution .................................................................................................3

2.

Methodology ......................................................................................................
..................5

2.1. Requirement

specification ..........................................................................................5

2.1.1 Hardware
................................................................................................................5-6
.

2.1.2. Software

....................................................................................................................8
3. User Interface

...11

4.

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CONCLUSION
.12

LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE NO

TITLE

PAGE

Wheelchair user

Microcontroller

Flowchart

Block Diagram

Arduino (Microcontroller)

Bluetooth Module

Light Sensor

Servo Motor

Relay

10

Connection Diagram For Arduino

11

Schematic

10

12

Arduino Software

10

13

The Applications Main Screen

12

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1.

Preamble

The smart home refers to a home where electronic appliance are

controlled wirelessly using a smart phone. Using this technology, the user
does not have to switch home appliances manually. With the advancement
of technology such as smart phones, microcontrollers and wireless
technologies, it is possible to integrate all those technologies to automate
home appliances. Applying this technology at home or a hospital motivates
older or disable people to practice daily activities such as turning electrical
devices ON/OFF without requiring a personal assistant, it also reduces
their

physical

movements

to

manually

switch

home

appliances.

Furthermore, hospitals can adapt this technology to reduce the risk of

patients movements in the room which could cause them dangerous side
effects, and give them the freedom to turn lights ON/OFF without calling
nurses to assist them. Moreover, having this technology provides the ability
to automate home appliances with the use of sensors such as light sensor,
water sensor, and temperature sensor which automatically control some
devices according to the intended action. This project presents a complete
prototype of a smart home and shows how those technologies integrate
with each other. On the other hand, as the aim of the project is not only to
have a smart home, but to develop a mobile application to interact with the
microcontroller and control home appliances. Therefore, the user interface
of the application is user friendly and it is easy to be used.

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1.2.

Problem Statement

The current home appliances are mostly controlled manually. Therefore, it

is difficult for old and disable people to turn them ON/OFF using the
switches on the wall, because it requires them to move around the home
which is not easy for them considering their situation, therefore, they
require assistance from others to perform the job for them, it is also a
difficult task for patients in hospitals to move from bed and control
electronic appliances, leaving their bed might have a dangerous
consequences and side effects. Automating home appliances is efficient
and saves energy. Furthermore, lights placed outside the home are usually
forgotten to be turned off during the day which consumes power and the
electricity bill will be increased, hence, automation is the best solution to
avoid energy consumption.

Figure (1): Wheelchair user

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1.3.

Project Objective
The main aim of this project is develop a mobile application that can be
used to control home appliances wirelessly using a Microcontroller.
There are several objectives of this project which
are:
1. To develop an android mobile application for controlling electrical
appliances from distance.
2. To automate lights placed outside the house.
3. To be able to open the garage door using the smart phone.

1.4.

The proposed solution

This project is aiming to develop a Smart phone based application for
controlling purposes. This project involves controlling home appliances
and automating lights. This is can be done by connecting appliances to
the microcontroller and sensors which is installed in the house to capture
Bluetooth connection and perform the intended actions after receiving the
input from the user. The application will take the input from the user
through mobile application and then send the command to the
microcontroller to perform the action. The proposed system provides
effective and efficient controlling as it is inexpensive, effortless and
provide continuous automation for the devices.

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Figure (2): Microcontroller

Figure (3):
Flowchart

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2. METHODOLOGY
This part describes the methodology used in this project. This project is an
implementation of a smart home, by using a smart phone home
appliances such as; lights, fan and garage door are controlled wirelessly. At
this point, the system is developed to simulate the proposed home
automation and to act for it once it is installed.

Figure (4):

Block

Diagram

2.1. Requirement Specifications

2.1.1. Hardware
In this proposed system, there are several hardware devices that are
required to implement the system. Firstly, the microcontroller (Arduino)
Figure (5) which takes the data from the sensor and the mobile application
and then perform the intended action. Secondly, the Bluetooth module Figure
(6) which is needed to establish a communication between the smart phone
and the microcontroller.

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T hi
rdly, an android smart phone that runs the application. Fourthly, a light
sensor Figure (7) to automatically turn on/off the light. Fitly, a servo motor
Figure (8) to open/close the garage door and Finally Relay which allows
you to turn on or off a circuit using voltage.

Figure
(5):
Arduino
Microcontroller

Figure (6): Bluetooth Module

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Figure (7): Light

Sensor

Light Sensor:

A Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is used to automate a light placed

outside the home to turn ON/OFF. When the sensor detects sunlight it
automatically turns OFF the light outside the home, however, when the
sun goes down the light turns ON.

Figure (8): Servo

M o to r

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Figure (9): Relay

The relay we are using is SPDT, it has 5 pins on the underside. As

shown above, here

pins 1 and 3are

the coil pins. 1 is

connected to

the Arduino
microcontrolle

r digital pin

and 3 is

connected to

Arduino

microcontroller GND.

2 is the common contact in

the relay to which you have

to connect the power for

your appliance and 4 is the

pin to which you have to

connect your appliance wire.

2.1.2. Software
In this proposed system, there are some Softwares which are required to
implement the system.
Firstly Fritzing Software, which can made the Arduino microcontroller Connection
Diagram Figure (10) and Schematic Figure (10).
Secondly, Arduino_Sketch Figure (12) Software, this software uses for
writing the code in Arduino board. The code is really simple. It checks
the incoming Bluetooth signal via the Bluetooth module and then
compares (ASCII values) using an if statement with previously
defined values. If it matches the value, relay is activated using digital
Write (pin, HIGH) command, which passes 5V to the Arduino digital
pin.

Finally, App Invertor, this is an online software, refer in the following

site http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ Figure (13).

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Figure (10): connection diagram for Arduino

The connection diagram for Arduino microcontroller is as shown in figure

(10). For setting up this system, wiring connections have to be made

between the Arduino microcontroller and Bluetooth module and also with
the relays. Here, the Bluetooth modules Tx is connected to Arduino Rx
(digital pin 0) and the modules Rx to Arduino Tx (digital pin 1). 5V and
GND of the module is connected to the Arduinos 5V and GND.

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Figure (11): Schematic

Figure (12): Arduino Software

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The Arduino code for the following project is shown in this package

sketch_Arduino.ino

App Inventor is a blocks-based programming tool that allows everyone,

even novices, to start programming and build fully functional apps for
Android devices.
This project which is consist of 5 buttons Figure (13).
1-A button for light 1
2-A button for light 2
3- A button for fan
4-A button for garage
5- The other button is furnished for writing the Bluetooth name which
will be connected to the Arduino.

HACS.apk

The app for the following project is here

The apk source is implemented on Android Operating system devices.

The system is a smart phone based application designed to work on
android operating systems.

3. User Interface
The graphical user interface is designed to be simple and easy to use.
The application displays buttons for each home appliance and those
buttons are easily recognized by users, each button carries an icon which
shows the user whether it turns ON or OFF. The main purpose of this
design is to make it easier for older people to use the application, because
the way they interact with a smart phone is different than the way
young people do. Therefore, they will not face any difficulties in using this
mobile application.

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Figure (13): The Applications Main Screen

4. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, automation of home appliances presents a great deal of
enhancement performance in controlling home appliances, it is also called
assistive technology which helps disabled and older people to control
appliances without moving their places. Moreover, it can be used in hospitals
by patients so they do not require assistance from nurses. This paper is
proposing a smart home system to control home devices wirelessly using a
mobile application.