Adaptive home control

The project goal is to develop a heating control system established in the three communities.

Adhoco (adaptive home control) is a new home automation system using wireless sensors and allowing to adjust light, heating and blinds. Sensors and activators both use electrical cables as well as existing switchers. Wireless communication and self-configuration make installation easier.

What distinguishes this system is that no programming is required. Furnished with some basic rules, such as switching on the light when you enter a dark room or switching it off when you leave, it will then adapt to your needs and habits.

For optimum adjustments, in accordance with your wishes, Adhoco system will assimilate your habits and interactions with standard activators. Everytime light is turned on or the position of blinds is changed, sensors collect those informations and transmit them to a central unit. Little by little, this central unit learns your rythms of life and apprehends them.

Not only does the system adapt to users but also to its environment. Indeed, sensors help it to determine what is the dwelling’s thermal inertia.

Heating control anticipates your presence, too. For example, it is able to turn off heating when you are away : if you leave at 8 a.m., heating will stop at 6 or 7 a.m. depending on the dwelling’s thermal inertia. Of course, adhoco system is also capable of planning when you come back home.

What’s more, to save as much energy as possible, the system needs to take into account solar gains. Internal and external light, temperatures and humidity, as well as the position of blinds will allow the system to measure and predict upcoming solar gains. Thus, these will be used in an optimum way.

Such a feature allows you to save energy up to 25% for heating and 40% for lighting.

Development will be carried out in two stages. A first phase dedicated to testing and refinement. A second one to the installation of 50 systems in the three HOLISTIC communities. Much attention will be paid to energy consumption, allowing new system improvements.