9-5-2013 5:30PM to 11PM - “Remote Controlled Blinds”
Karl
Home Automation Group of Northern Virginia
9-5-2013 5:30PM to 11PM - “Remote Controlled Blinds”
This is our second meeting of the “Home Automation Group of Northern Virginia.” The first meeting we held the group had a discussion about remote motor control of blinds and other ideas for the group to research or build in the future. At this point the group has decided to work on remote control of a home's blinds since it quite useful for the average person and much easier than other more advance projects. A 3D printed module found on Thingiverse should be printed before the next meeting (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:39574 ) called “Bead Chain Gear Drivetrain and Enclosures.” Another member is looking for standard blinds which do not use the bead chain and can also to be used for testing and research.
One of the member said at the meeting that this group appears to be for inventors. That's an great observation and is correct. The global makerspace community is most commonly for people interested and making their inventions, projects, research, volunteering, and collaborating with people in the community. As the group grows we will try to find members who can give classes to people or lectures on Home Automation topics, but at this time we are building and designing Home Automation technologies and systems.
We need more members for the projects and to build the automated blinds! This includes software developers to build the Iphone and Android apps to run the blinds remotely, microcontroller design and programming, CAD operators to 3D print the enclosures, and anyone who can help! This is also a great time to join the group to also be part of a possible future croudfunded kickstarter.com project for the final design, but you need to show up and join the group before the team is completed! All designs will be open source for everyone.
Using ReverseSpace's huge 3D printer selection, we have the ability not only to 3D print enclosures but also the ability to print gears and small parts. The space's ultra high resolution Form1 Laser 3D printer can be used to print the gears, and 3D System's full color 3D printer can be used to make the enclosure. A basic selection of stepper motor, servos, and general equipment which could be used to open and close the blinds will be available at the meeting. It is also important to note that this group is for adults. If you are a parent of a child, you are welcome to attend the meeting but you must be with your child at all times.
Below is a re-post of old meeting posts:
5:30pm to 6:30pm – time for members to show up for the meeting.
6:30pm to 7:30pm – A hour to meet and talk about the meeting. This can continue if needed until the Makerspace closes at 11PM.
Equipment and donations available to be used by the Home Automation Group:
Arduino microcontroller Uno and Mega - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino
Raspberry Pi - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi
BeagleBone Black – http://beagleboard.org/Products/BeagleBone%20Black NEW!
Book “Bad to the Bone” on crafting electronic systems with BeagleBone and BeagleBone Black NEW!
Book “Z-Wave Basics” on using w-wave for wireless communication in Smart Homes. NEW!
Book “Raspberry Pi Projects for the Evil Genius” on projects for Raspberry Pi. NEW!
Below is a list of things that could be built in the future at the Home Automation Group, including:
Remote controlled blinds - (This can allow the heating of a house based on the outdoors temperature and the amount of sun outside)
Air conditioning – Controlling AC and Heating using Cell phones or advanced programs also to save money.
Front door systems- This includes the ability to automatically unlock a door when the presence of the owner's cell phone is detected. No more fumbling to find keys.
Security – This is by far the best solution save money by building your own customized security system.
Garage door – Opening the door automatically when your car drives up and texting you if the door have been left open.
Lighting – Automation of lighting to save on money by turning of lights when the user leaves a section of the house. Voice control is also something many are working on.
Watering of plants – Place a sensor in the soil of the plant and texting the owner when it need to be watered. Automatically watering of plants is also a something we can build at the space.
Cutting of grass – There are many robotic law mowers, but all of them are too expensive for the average consumer. A Makerspace is a great place to build your own robotic law mower and save thousands in the process.
Members at the meeting have used: Smartthings, Insteon, Phillphs Hue, Belkin Wemo, and many other technologies.
If you have any projects you are working on, feel free to bring it to Reverse Space! We have locked storage space, hundred of tools and electronics, and the largest sections of free to use 3D printers for any Makerspace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace) on the east coast of the US. At this time membership is free.
Address of the meeting:
Cortona Academy
13505 Dulles Technology Drive Suite 3 (all the way in the back!)
Herndon, VA 20171