Development of Smart Ceiling Tile for Switchless Buildings

Abstract

The rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to a surge in the number of IoT devices within households, resulting in a significant strain on traditional household wiring and switch infrastructure. As the number of devices increases, existing wiring systems struggle to accommodate the growing demand, leading to energy conversion losses and inefficiencies. Furthermore, the fixed positioning of sockets and switches limits modularity and hampers the flexibility to redesign and adapt to the expanding needs of modern households. This thesis addresses these challenges by proposing innovative solutions to enhance the adaptability, efficiency, and modularity of household wiring and switch systems in the era of IoT proliferation. This thesis introduces an innovative approach to home automation by integrating smart ceiling tiles and energy-harvesting Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) switches for controlling household appliances. The system employs trilateration techniques to determine the precise location of switches based on signals received by the smart tiles installed in various rooms. Localisation accuracy was achieved across rooms by analysing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. The smart tiles are powered by DC power via support rails, significantly reducing the need for complex wiring. By using machine learning classification algorithms with RSSI values as features, the system accurately predicts switch locations with a high accuracy rate of 93% . The Smart tiles use Power Line communication (PLC) to communicate between the tiles using Carrier Sense and Multiple Access with Collision Detection(CSMA/CD). Integrating smart tiles into false ceilings, combined with energy-harvesting BLE switches and PLC, offers several benefits, including simplified wiring, enhanced user convenience, and improved aesthetic appeal. This thesis contributes to advancing the field of home automation by presenting a scalable and efficient infrastructure for smart home control systems.