a couple of ideas on OpenHAB

[Ηλίας Καρακουλάκης]

Just spend my Easter holidays acquainting myself to OpenHAB. I just replaced a proprietary KNX controller (Linux MIPS board w/ a KNX TUPART - good functionality but severely limited closed-access system) with a RPi and I'm already using it for interconnecting KNX and ZWave devices. 

There are a couple of ideas that are beginning to form inside my head:

1) what about a "meta-binding" which forms new functionality from existing items from different bindings? right now, I need to map each and every status feedback/temperature readout from ZWave devices into a KNX "command" via a rule. This is cumbersome and error-prone. There should be a way to map any Zwave switch/dimmer to a set of KNX GA/s (command on/off, command level, status, etc) so we can have a bidirectional control. For example:

- a KNX write request on the command GA will transform into a ZWave sendCommand

- a ZWave switch_basic command will automatically update the status GA

- a manual ZWave operation will also automatically update the status GA

Due to the differences in functionality that each protocol implements, I assume this could be simply done as a "rule template" and this template instantiated with the item names for example. Your thoughts?

2) Textual rules are fine as long as they're short (pun intended!): however when you do complex stuff like controlling irrigation systems you need more power:

This is *part* from an FBD (Function block diagram) program from a popular KNX-compatible PLC. It's quite an old but stable solution that simply delivers. Its only problem? its a closed black box that I can't extend to more than 24 inputs and 16 outputs, be it binary inputs, physical relays or virtual KNX GA's. Right now I've already scripted part of this irrigation system in Lua (so I can get the weather forecast from Yahoo) - but its already filled up its I/O slots! The idea here is bring an FBD-like editor to link logical functions (which can be implemented in software) to compose higher-level abstractions. I know about the inherent problems of software PLCs, but in situations where timing isn't critical (we're not controlling CNC robots with OpenHAB, do we? :) ), we can produce beautifully engineered solutions. Your thoughts?

Elias

[karsten.k...@gmail.com]

Jasus Elias,

For the zwave topic - you probably should have a look at the habmin interface.

at least some parts are implemented there.

Cheers
Karsten

[Ηλίας Καρακουλάκης]

Hi Karsten,

I'm referring to a "meta"-binding because it will involve two bindings (KNX and ZWave for example - so as to control ZWave devices from KNX switches for instance) so its not necessarily ZWave related.

I agree that HABmin was the missing part that made OpenHAB a complete solution, but its not the main point of focus in my idea. What I propose is a mechanism to be able to invoke actions from binding A (eg. KNX switches) to devices on binding B (eg Zwave dimmers), without writing any code.

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Elias Karakoulakis

Electrical & Computer Engineer NTUA Athens

Msc Information Systems, AUEB Athens

KNX Advanced Partner