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automation

Homebrew always-on server

Required: A small, low-current-draw server to act as file-storage, database, version control, asterisk controller, security-system ...

Hardware

For me, the hardware requirements are that the server be small enough to fit on my bookshelf, and low-powered so I can leave it on all the time. This points to: a mini-ITX motherboard and case, as the nano ones are still too expensive, and; an AMD Sempron CPU, as it has the lowest power requirements.

Add to this some RAM (1GB should be enough for now) and hard-drives such as the 500GB from Samsung - reputably quiet and cool, and often used in media centres. So something like the Biostar IDEQ AMD Sempron 3300+, with capacity for 2 SATA drives and up to 2GB PC3200 RAM, looks ideal!

Software

For the operating system, I've chosen Ubuntu 7.10 Server, a Linux distribution. You could just as easily use Debian or another Linux distro, or OS X Server. The good thing about Ubuntu and Debian is the APT installation system - installing many of the software packages listed below is as easy as typing "sudo apt-get install {package}" on the command line.

There's no point having an always-on server if it's not doing anything. Before anything else, install:
Some other ideas are:
  • Amanda backup.
  • Asterisk VOIP Server.
  • Azureus Bittorrent Downloader - A Java app, but can be run "headless".
  • BIND DNS server - resolve local names (because the ADSL router can't).
  • Cfengine configuration engine.
  • FreeSwan VPN.
  • Icecast Streaming Server - MP3 streaming audio which can work with MPD.
  • Mediatomb UPnP - With 1TB of file storage, this will be an ideal repository for video, and UPnP is a standard protocol for streaming video and audio content.
  • MPD Music Player Daemon - remote control music playback.
  • MySQL Database - many other services need or benefit from a "real" database (as opposed to the file-based SQLite), and it may be useful for making your own data-centric apps.
  • Nagios system monitoring
  • Samba Windows File Sharing - if you have Windows clients.
  • Subversion Version Control - always handy for developers.
  • Shorewall network firewall.
  • Zoneminder Security System.

Hardware

HA-systems

Media

Other

Power

Remote-control

Sensors

Servers

User interface devices

Nokia 770

Nokia_770.jpgThe Nokia 770 (and the latest incarnation, the Nokia N800) are "internet tablets": small, portable devices specifically for accessing the Internet, including web-browsing, email, instant messaging and VOIP. The Nokia 770 has a large touchscreen, a small directional keypad and some other function buttons. It can connect to the Internet via Wifi (IEEE802.11b/g) or Bluetooth (i.e. connecting through your phone to use dial-up or a data plan).

The 770 is based on Linux and a Gnome-derivative user interface called "Maemo". As both Maemo and Linux are open source, there is an active developer and hacker community writing different applications and software for all sorts of things -- e-book readers, intrusion (detection) tools, integrated media browsers and players, automotive telemetry, GPS and even aeronautical displays for experimental aeroplane designs.

For home automation, the 770 supports application programming in a number of languages, including Python. Also, the default browser (a version of Opera) can do AJAX, which opens the way for dynamic web-based interfaces.

Resources

Developer

Tips

I just watched Rise of the Silver Surfer. That's a Nokia 770 that Reed Richards is obsessed with! I hadn't thought of hooking the tablet into a world-wide satellite network, I must admit ...
--glennji 03:58, 4 October 2007 (PDT)

WorkInProgress

Current Setup

I'm not really particularly far into the evolution of my perfect intelligent home. What's more, I've just moved so even the stuff I had working earlier is still awaiting unpacking.

My haven consists of:
  • a secure Wifi network
  • The Nokia 770 - an infinitely hackable Linux device, but also one less reason to switch on the PC if I only want to surf the web, chat or access web-based GUIs
  • a shiny silver Intel Core2 Duo (Ubuntu Linux), ready to be overclocked and watercooled!
  • A "smart" power plug. Plug the main device (in this case, the PC) into the master socket and the slave sockets will switch off completely when the master is not drawing a charge.
  • an ancient Toshiba laptop which will end it's days as either a digital photo frame, waterproofed digital map display for a motorcycle tankbag or kitchen display.
  • TV tuner & MythTV streaming to XBMC
  • Linksys Sipura 3102 VOIP gateway for IP telephony (and cheap calls to Oz)
Some other things which may prove useful:
  • some random work laptops (Windows, ugh)
  • an iPod dock and speakers which are crying out for hackification
  • permanent webspace and multiple domain-names for offsite backups and/or synch services
  • a DAB and FM clock radio

Work in Progress

Things I'm planning or working on now:
  • Low-power energy-efficient globes, with a significantly lower current draw.
  • Use ACPI to schedule a computer "ON" time, and anacron or GShutdown for an "OFF". This could be handy
  • Web-based remote control of media playback
  • Screenlets-based feedback and control of media playback
  • Synchronization of personal information
  • Music streaming with MPD and Icecast
  • Nagios: service monitoring with Nagios
  • Publishing IPP printers with Avahi
  • Remote reporting/control via VOIP with Asterisk
  • Remote reporting/control via Jabber
  • Surveillance with ZoneMinder
  • Lighting and motion sensors so lamps can turn off when not in use (may conflict with energy efficient globes)
  • GlennjiMason/Security

Thoughts for the future

Appliance control

I haven't decided on which appliance control system I should use, although it will probably be either X10 or Insteon. Once I figure that out I'll be experimenting with xPL and MisterHouse, with curiousity as the controller (although I may want one of the always-on devices to do it, the Buffalo Linkstation or the new tranquility music player.

Remote Control

  • The Chumby is almost ready to buy, and should only be ~£90!
  • Some kind of firewalled secure access to web GUIs from outside the network (still undecided on the best way to do this)
  • Asterisk-enabled "dial-in" remote control
  • Remote-control bots via a private Jabber server

Security

Recently we witnessed an attempted burglary. We called the police, who apprehended one of the would-be-thieves, but a week later someone threw a firebomb over our fence and burnt up some motorcycles. Just this morning we saw a guy walking along casing cars. Maybe we should just move It made me realise just how subjective experience was i.e. how little we could trust our own recollections of the events.

So I want a security/surveillance system which can, if not protect me, at least keep a record of exactly what's going on down there in the big bad world. Information technology can act as our agents for this, a crude intelligence augmentation (IA).

Robotics

  • TuxDroid - by the gods, I want one of these!

The far distant future

  • Kitchen touchscreen (wish I could find an Audrey)
  • Voice activation
  • Security system
  • GPS and music player on the treadley, powered by solar, wind and/or dynamo (thanks Make)
  • Stompbox for GPS and telemetry on the Ducati

Random ideas, thoughts and links

  • Notification via libnotify over DBUS
  • Pop ups on XBMC
  • Audible notifications/control -- python-mpdclient API
  • Notifications via Jabber - xmpppy Jabber API in Python
  • X10 screenlets?
  • Introduction to writing DS homebrew
  • Synchronisation with Unison, and works on the Nokia too!
  • Should really try iPodLinux - if only for the emulators
  • Can use the Linkstation as an Asterisk server
  • Argos are selling the Juicebox for £4.99 ... a couple of these for digital photo frames, perhaps?
  • USB key drive as a "shadow home" with UnionFS -- plug it in and it mounts the encrypted volume, then mounts over your dotfiles so you get your own settings (but still possible to use PC without key drive)
  • Make Magazine and the Internet have instructions for building both ECGs and EEGs ... I'd like to wire myself up to the PC for some experimentation (with sbagen binaural beats generator)
  • If I make a little FM transmitter ("micromitter") I could stream digital audio (OGG and MP3) to the DAB radio in the bedroom. Wouldn't be using the DAB part of it of course, but it might be good if you want to listen to music in the bedroom but nowhere else.
  • AWM (Avant Window Manager) now has plugins! And icons can be updated via dbus-send!

UserStory

User Story (with notes)

Glennji (and Deeji) are woken gently by the gradual illumination of a lamp and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The music increases in volume; the flat panel on the wall comes to life displaying useful information: the weather forecast, news headlines scrolling by, the time and today's schedule for each of them.

X10 plugs can be used to simulate "daylight" or "sunrise" lighting; this is important because if it were up to me I'd sleep all day (and play all night). Music is nice to wake up to, but it's hard to pick the correct volume. We want a general-purpose TV in our room for TV, movies, even MAME games when someone else is using the main TV.

During breakfast Glennji and his beloved Deeji talk, read news and email on the web-tablet, and watch TV. Afterwards, if both working onsite, he picks up his web-tablet, phone and keys and they head out the door. Behind them the workstation signs them both out of instant messenger networks and hibernates. A low-power "always on" server redirects the landline to voicemail for most numbers; certain numbers will redirect to one of their mobiles. The security system is activated and any lights are switched off.

On the way to work, Deeji reminds Glennji about the Zoo on the weekend and he enters it into the web-tablet or phone, happy that both will synchronise with his desktop and Google calendars. They part ways on Brick Lane and head into their respective offices.

Once logged on Glennji checks his email - a utility company called just after they left, and the voicemail is attached in MP3 format. He adds the phone number to his phone and synchronises with the web-tablet, desktop and online contacts list. He connects to home and cues up the latest episode of "Flight Of The Conchords" to watch that evening, then starts streaming music from the collection to work. Curious, he clicks through the security cameras, but all is well - he would receive an email, instant message or SMS if there was a break-in, anyway.

When they arrive home that evening, the lights and the workstation switch on. They listen to music, watch live (pauseable) or pre-recorded TV or hack Java code before preparing dinner from an online recipe displayed on a splash-proof screen in the kitchen. With dinner eaten, the dishes done and tomorrow's coffee prepared they settle in for the night. Glennji activates the movie settings via the web tablet: the lights dim and home theatre comes to life.

The phone rings: it's Deeji's mum, so the movie pauses itself and announces who is calling. She picks up the cordless handset and presses 9 to transfer it there, rather than the workstation or mobile headset. Glennji sits down at the computer and updates a wiki or three.

Home Automation

"Home automation" covers a whole lot of different areas, services and capabilities. I want to implement (most of) the following in our home.

Features:
• behind-mirror display
• integral bathroom scales
• touch-panels in kitchen
• powered curtains
• environment control
• and more hardware projects

Communications
• gigabit ethernet
• VOIP voice communications
• video intercom
• file server

Multimedia
• multichannel TV recorder
• multizone speakers
• universal remote
• lounge room starscape
• Internet radio

Monitoring
• automatic watering
• moisture sensors
• electricity monitoring
• water monitoring
• gas monitoring
• home security system (ZoneMinder)

Garage
• controlled garage door

Read the UserStory to get an idea of where I'm going with this, or check out the WorkInProgress.

Overview

I am trying to get into home automation as I'm fascinated by the possibilities: an intelligent home which recognizes and adapts to its occupants, modifying the environment to best use the resources at hand; non-intrusive, pervasive technologies and a self-configuring, secure and ubiquitous information-mesh with auto-discovery of services. In "plainspeak", the kind of thing you learn to use very quickly and soon take for granted.

I also want ecologically sensible and planet-friendly solutions and experiments - wiring up your home (and subsequently your life) should use less energy because the intelligent home is smart enough to take advantage of environmental efficiency-tuning.

I'm renting, which means anything rigged up has to be just as easily removed without permanent damage, but the technology these days allows exactly that. It also means I'm unlikely to be able to run fibre-optics inside the walls, embed an LCD in the kitchen bench or behind the bathroom mirror, or rewire the electricity grid to take a feed from a solar-panel or/and wind turbine array. Perhaps when (if?) I buy my own place ...

Self-configuring, self-healing, secure, pervasive, ubiquitous information-mesh

(The longest heading ever.) I have a particular requirement for my network of intelligent (PCs), semi-intelligent (embedded controllers) and simple devices (remote switches and sensors) -- they should work seamlessly together, be able to automatically reconfigure quite quickly, and provide discoverable services to one another in a secure, non-intrusive way.

"Ubiquity" in this context refers to the services being discoverable and available via a number of different mechanisms -- i.e. remote control/reporting interfaces via web/HTTP, IM bots, VOIP, voice-activation and other interfaces.

In practice this means a number of things:


  • The wireless (802.11g) computer network should be secure (WPA with PSK) and self-configuring (Zeroconf)

  • Services should be published via Avahi/DNS-SD (printers, music libraries, fileshares, web-interfaces)

  • * Service-monitoring and self-repair should be running whenever possible

Eco considerations

There are a couple of reasons to try to be as energy efficient as possible when it comes to electronics and electrical goods: fiscal and ecological responsibility.

Electricity, for now at least, costs money and a few devices left on or on standby can quickly add up. In the past I've tended to have at least a couple of PCs on at any one time, and subsequently our power bill was always quite large -- that is money I could be spending on other things!

As for the impact we're having on poor Starship Earth, we need to increase efficiency just to continue life-support for our growing global population. Yup, I'm a fan of R. Buckminster Fuller's ephemeralization and intelligent designs -- always "doing more with less" and taking the full system into consideration "holistically".