| Device Profile: Lagotek wireless home automation system |
(May 30, 2006)
[Updated June 1] Lagotek's Home Intelligence Platform (HIP) is a wireless home automation system that enables simplified control of lighting, climate, security, entertainment, video surveillance, irrigation, and other residential applications. HIP, which is based on devices running Windows CE 5.0, integrates easily with third-party data acquisition and control products, according to the company.
HIP consists of three types of controllers, a wireless interface hub, and a suite of software.
 | HIP-100 controller
(Click image to enlarge) |
 The HIP-100 controller (shown here) is an independent computer with two embedded processors -- a 200 MHz ARM920T running Windows CE 5.0, along with a DSP (digital signal processor). The HIP-100 installs directly in the wall, in the space of a 2-gang light switch.
For wireless data acquisition and control communications, the system utilizes Z-Wave, a low bandwidth wireless protocol that specifically targets residential control applications. HIP also provides 802.11 WiFi support, for communicating with PCs and PDAs. Since the system is fully wireless, remodeling installations require no additional wiring or "hole drilling," Lagotek says.
The HIP-100 controller communicates with other Z-Wave-enabled devices such as third-party lighting dimmers and power outlets, and the HIP-200 wireless hub, which controls the HVAC system. Initial software applications for the HIP system include control of multiple zones of heating and air conditioning, whole home lighting, entertainment systems and security systems.
Two key features of Lagotek's technology are "Modes" and "Profiles," which Lagotek describes as the "secret sauce" in making whole home automation accessible and acceptable to mass market homeowners, according to the company. Any setting or parameter of the system can be used as part of a saved mode or profile, according to the company. Modes can be selected manually from the controller touchscreen, by voice command using built-in speech recognition, or automatically via the Home Intelligence software.
The objective, Lagotek says, is to make human interaction with the system unnecessary in many situations. For example, "Good Night" Mode can be set manually or from a voice command that adjusts occupied and unoccupied room temperatures, security system, lighting and home entertainment for night time settings. The reverse might be true for the "Good Morning" Mode.
The "Vacation" Profile illustrates how profiles can control multi-home electrical system elements over a period of time. This profile remembers all daily activities for a two-week or other defined period, and automatically invokes those routines for lighting and music, leaving temperature set to "unoccupied" levels. The result is a home that appears occupied while the residents are away for an extended period.
An important selling-point of the system is its affordability, according to the company -- about $10,000 on average, including "integrated single-system controls" for lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), sound system, surveillance, and irrigation. In contrast, today's sophisticated whole home automation systems generally cost upwards of $100,000 for a 2500+ square foot home, including parts and installation, Lagotek says.
"We believe this approach will finally make automation a standard feature of every home, both for new construction and the remodeling marketplace," said Eugene Luskin, Lagotek's CEO.
HIP-100 specs
Basic hardware and interface specifications of the HIP-100, according to Lagotek, include: - Processor -- Cirrus Logic 200 MHz ARM920T plus secondary DSP based processor
- Memory:
- 32 MB SDRAM (Factory expandable to 64 MB)
- 32 MB Intel strata Flash (Factory expandable to 64 MB)
- up to 8 Mbit of serial EEPROM on SPI or I2C interface
- Display -- 3.5- or 4-inch screen with LED backlight and touchscreen, 320 X 240 resolution, 200 nits brightness
- Peripherals:
- 2-key keypad illuminated by programmable RGB LEDs
- header for optional piggyback xxternal USB client board
- light sensor
- IR-based proximity sensor
- temperature sensor
- audio:
- AC97 codec with 500 mW mono amp
- flat speaker
- high gain microphone
- RS-232 -- internal connector for debug only (not populated in production)
- Wireless:
- 802.11g
- Z-wave -- 200 series with onboard antenna
- Power -- 90 to 110 VAC
 | Zensys ZW0201
(Click image to enlarge) |
Z-Wave is implemented via a low-cost Zensys SoC (system-on-chip), the ZW0201 chip on the small controller board shown here. The chip integrates an RF transceiver, an 8051 microcontroller, SRAM, and flash memory, along with required I/O interfaces. Z-Wave utilizes a dynamic routing strategy that repeats the signal from one node to the next. This extends the range beyond that possible with a single low-power device, and also allows for routing around obstacles and radio dead spots, according to Zensys.
Why Windows CE?
"That's what we knew best," said David Kizhnerman, founder and Chief Software Architect of Lagotek. "We compared Windows CE to a variety of other developer programs on the market today and decided that it was the best option for us, especially because of its reliability and platform flexibility."
"Windows CE has "a lot of great development tools, a rich API, good support documentation, and easy access to tutorials," continued Kizhnerman. "Also, CE has good platform flexibility and allows developers to tailor the operating system for their specialized needs. Windows CE lets you strip the OS down to its core functionality for optimal performance."
Another benefit of using Windows CE is that "the .NET Compact Framework enables the developer to reuse the code for panels and large applications," Kizhnerman said.
On the downside, "it has a tough debugging process -- at least until the new version of .NET framework is available," Kizhnerman noted.
Overall, though, "our choice proved to be the right one," said Kizhnerman. "We are very happy with the end product, Lagotek Home Intelligence Platform software. We are looking forward to supporting Windows CE 6.0."
Availability
The company says it has just completed three large HIP installations in Bellevue, Wash and is now rolling out the system to national distribution.
"My wife figured it out right away and it won't be long before my kids will figure it out. It looks good in the house too," one happy homeowner reportedly said of his newly installed HIP system.
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