Efficient Communication in Smart Homes

Abstract: Smart furniture is being more and more common in our homes. This thesis combines the growing interest in smart homes and farming of flowers and vegetables. The goal is to determine and characterize the parameters one has to take into consideration in order to design of a smart system for indoor farming. A shelf in a module concept is the focus and the piece of furniture that the investigations are starting from. The shelf is supposed to work as a part of the room, dividing or creating new spaces while being a place where flowers, vegetables and herbs can be grown, as well as work as a storage for books and other things. The part with the plants is supposed to be self-sufficient, therefore a suitable system needs to be found, both in terms of communication protocol, sensors and measurements. Three different communication protocols have been studied, Bluetooth, Z-wave and 1-Wire. A literature study has been made to look at other kinds of agricultural systems, to learn more about different parameters, and to find assurance of secure measurements. A Bluetooth system is tested in small scale to evaluate and see how different growing materials and the materials of the pot and the module can interfere with the signal.