A modular architecture for building automation systems

Abstract

The deployment of building automation systems (BAS) allows to increase comfort, safety and security and to reduce operational cost. Today such systems typically follow a two-layered hierarchical approach. While control networks interconnect distributed sensors, actuators and controllers, a backbone provides the necessary infrastructure for management tasks hosted by configuration and management devices. In addition, devices interconnecting the control network with the backbone and the backbone with further networks (e.g., the Internet) play a strategic role. All BAS devices contributing to a particular functionality differ in their requirements for hardware. This paper discusses requirements for devices used in the building automation domain and presents our work in progress to assemble platforms with different purposes relying on a modular architecture.

Application of Cloud Computing in Programming Intelligent Electric Networks in Prosumers’ Households

“…In recent years, the number of intelligent building systems users has increased (Granzer et al 2006). Their most important feature is the necessity of activating devices in order to enable operation in the building system.…”

Enhanced control application development in Building Automation

“…While this approach may at first seem inappropriate for a low-end SAC due to the relatively high resource requirements of such techniques, it offers outstanding possibilities. 1 Besides, the resource requirements can be lowered to a significant extent with the acceptance of certain limitations. The sandbox does not need to support fully fledged programming models, since the desired operations, especially in control tasks, are often quite simple.…”

“…Listing 1, [8], [11]), that hosts the technology specific application models (i.e., BACnet objects, KNX standardized functional blocks, LonWorks SFPTs, ZigBee objects) as well as a definition of generic application objects. Besides, 1 Sandboxes might even be designed to be capable of executing native BAS code and to allow the integration of already existing applications.…”

“…While it appeared reliable during development and testing of the software running on it, it is not intended for real-life use. We chose an Atmel ATMega168 MCU As second platform we chose KNXcalibur [1], which is based on the Fujitsu 16 bit MB90330 family MCU with 24 MHz, 24 Kilobytes RAM and 384 KB flash. It provides Ethernet connectivity and connection to KNX with the Siemens TP-UART IC.…”

“…Sensor, Actuators and Controllers (SAC) interact with the physical environment. Interconnection Devices (ICD) link different networks and network segments and Configuration and Management Devices (CMD) are used for engineering and management [1].…”