Home Automation with ZigBee and Linux
 

A friend of mine and I have designed and built a wireless box, which can be used to turn on/off any electrical device at home, office, factory, etc. through a program or internet.

The wireless connection between the box and the controlling computer is performed by ZigBee. The computer is connected to internet and a web application allows to access the box from the web.

The current implementation has the computer running Slackware and the web application written in Java.

In order to test this system, you can go here: http://dimingo.homelinux.com:8080/zsocket

The box is currently attached to a LED lamp located in my lab. You can see the lamp turning on/off, by using my webcam widgets:
- Opera: http://widgets.opera.com/widget/6455
- Yahoo: http://widgets.yahoo.com/gallery/view.php?widget=41802

The lamp application is simple, but this wireless system can have a lot of very useful applications.

What Hardware?
 

Hi

I've been thinking about hacking around with Zigbee in linux a bit. Can you describe what hardware/software you're using on the PC side? I've seen a number of Zigbee USB dongles but I'm not sure which ones work in linux and which have the best libraries/sdk's available

I used a ZigBee (XBee) USB adapter similar to this: http://www.robot-italy.com/images/im...t_THUMB300.jpg

The driver for this adapter is already included in the recent Linux kernel. You can find more information here: http://ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

Hi,

This is really an interesting project!

I have a few questions about some details.
1) How XBee device is controled? Does it provide some Zigbee API via AT commands or something like that?
2) Are these lapms ready to go devices or are home-made?

Thanks a lot in advance

There's a store not too far from my house that sells these units http://www.control4.com/.

I was thinking of getting the Xbee unit and messing around with some of their switches and whatnot.

You can control a XBee chip as a serial (RS232) port . XBee provides AT commands for simple configurations and also API for advanced use.

The lamps, which I'm using in my home, are normal lamps, that you can connect to my home-made ZigBee box. This box has inside the XBee chip and a microcontroller with the management firmware. You connect this box to the power wall-socket on one side and to any electric appliance power plug on the other side. That's all ! :)

If someone is interested in having the ZigBee Box, I can produce it.

Oh, I forgot to mention...although maybe it was obvious.. all their products are zigbee based. :)

Regarding Zigbee to IP conversion..
 

Hii...

Great job...even i'm working in the same area..but I need to know how Zigbee to IP bridge was developed and implemented?Kindly help me as to how to start and proceed...
With warm Regards..
Swaroopa.

Zigbee usb dongle
 

Hi I am new to Zigbee development.
I am planing to buy a Zigbee usb dongle which I can attach to my x86 Atom board and control any zigbee slave (eg sensors).

Can you please suggest me what usb dongle I can buy so that I can also get drivers for it on linux platform.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Scott

Home automation
 

Hi
I am interested in getting a zigbee box made for home automation

Hi,
I am interested in developing home automation. Can you guys help me ?

Hi arvindsacheti,

I can build a zigbee box for you and sell it to you.

You have to tell me some more details about what you need, such as:
- how many plugs?
- type of plug (US, EU, ...)?

If you want, you can contact me by email: giovanni@dimingo.com

best regards
giovanni