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Home Automation Kit Includes Arduino, RasPi Dev Boards

Posted by Soulskill on from the can-you-make-it-feed-my-cat dept.

DeviceGuru writes "WigWag has developed a home automation kit that combines a Linux-based 6LoWPAN router with sensor units running the open-source Contiki IoT (Internet of Things) OS. Users can add ZigBee, Bluetooth, and other modules to expand the home network, and the WigWam development kit provides shield development boards for use with Arduino and Raspberry Pi SBCs. Users control the devices with a smartphone app (initially Android-based) and associated WigWag cloud service, which lets the devices remotely respond to sensor-based events such as motion detection, rain, noise, etc. Developers can create rules-based scripts for controlling devices using WigWag's open-source Javascript-based DeviceJS development environment. WigWag used a Kickstarter page to fund production and has already tripled its goal."

7 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The Freeway Behind by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd rather read a book from someone who lives humbly and serves humbly.

    Donating billions of dollars to various charities is not humble?

    That's right. Humility has nothing to do with how much money you give away. That's philanthropy.

    One could even say that donating billions of dollars to specific charities shows a lack of humility, and a desire to control how things are done by others. While I would consider Bill Gates as MUCH more humble than the late Steve Jobs, I think you'll find Steve Wozniak has them both beat by many miles. Once he made it big, he immediately started seeing how he could use that money to make everyone's life better, even if there was no benefit for himself (financially, politically or in any other way other than "it feels good to help").

  2. yet another g'damn cloud service by gclef · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While I find the idea interesting, I'm annoyed at the fact that it's useless without WigWam's cloud service. I've been burned too many times already, so I'm not particularly willing to build a complex home automation setup just to have the whole thing turned to a set of bricks because WigWam got bought by Yahoo (who seem to shut down every startup they buy), or just ran out of money.

    1. Re:yet another g'damn cloud service by tftp · · Score: 2

      Home automation costs are 99% in sensors and controlled equipment (switches, motors, annunciators, etc.) The cost of the control system is the remaining 1%. You would be better off just buying the best one on the market. Homeseer is pretty good, and it costs about $250. That's the cost of about 5 to 7 wall switches. There is no need to add failure points into the system by using a cloud. HS3 runs also on Linux, by the way.

    2. Re:yet another g'damn cloud service by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      >>>>>
      Below for Advanced Users, Developers and Makers:

      Advanced users have the option of running DeviceJS 'raw'... meaning with out WigWag cloud support at all. This means an Internet connection would not be required as long as services are local. However, the WigWag app and web site will not work. This option may be good for some makers and developers making very specialized systems.

      I guess it takes someone really interested to read the faq where this question is directly addressed...

    3. Re:yet another g'damn cloud service by iamwahoo2 · · Score: 2

      I do not really see WigWam as being a product built to compete with current off the shelf products. As evidenced by their release of the Arduino and RasPi Dev kits, It is really geared for tinkerers interested in the engineering of automation systems not just the building of a single automated home. They are providing a system with two completely open operating systems, hackable hardware, and the scalability and versatility of IP. This allows you to develop completely unique automated systems that would be impossible with existing systems. Not only can you the types of sensors and actuators in the system, but you can actually hack down to the level of changing things like radio duty cycling, routing protocols, and device sleep cycles. You cannot do this with devices like the Digi Xbee products and certainly not with systems like Z-wave or insteon.

  3. Nope by hklingon · · Score: 2

    Thanks, but no thanks. Honeywell (and others) have put a lot of R&D and solid engineering into their sensors (door, window, motion, glass-break, running water, etc) and there are already "convenient" standards like z-wave for home automation.
    Honeywell systems like the L5100 are dead easy install, and very easy.
    http://www.security.honeywell.com/hsc/products/control/wi/ly/329673.html

    BUT they suffer from this cloud service business. Ulgh? No. Cloud functionality is fine, but not when used for lock in. The honeywell system has a great mobile phone app? But You Must Subscribe to their service at $10-$20/mo. No thanks.

    What I would fund on kickstarter would be some kind of open interface or open firmware for these. Ideally the low level stuff we leave alone, because it works well, and just dress up the front-end. It needs to be open source.

    No need to reinvent the wheel with modules and sensors at this stage. That comes later so we can have free hardware, also.

    Anyone know of any open firmware replacements for anything like the L5100?

  4. I dream of home automation that works by MrLogic17 · · Score: 2

    I like the idea of home automation, but ya, this ain't it. Most solutions I see are either ancient & unreliable, or a complex solution looking for a problem.

    What I want is a bunch of physical components built like an iPhone (clean, simple, just works), connected to a small, smart controller. Like a Raspberry Pi running Scratch. Brains to the system that I don't have to invest days into. Anything requiring "cloud" or subscription is right out.

    Life is short. I have a ton of things I want to do, and don't have time to do. Home automation's got to have a big bang for the buck before I'm jumping in. Save me a ton of time, or save me a bunch of money - every day.

    Types of things that I can't believe aren't dead-simple to plug into a standard home automation system:
    -I want a key fob that unlocks my door. (Kevo would be awsome, but it doesn't exist yet) Have that device notify the main system. Let me then script a "wake up the house" list.
    -I want a "good night" button by my night stand. Turn off all lights, lock all doors, turn off all TV's, radios, etc. Close the garage door. If I have an alarm system, turn that on. If a door or window is open, tell me.
    -I want a super easy, super reliable system to open upstairs windows if the temp outside is better than inside. (Outside is cooler in the summer, outside is warmer in the winter.) Said system should be aware of thunderstorms, or be down-pour proof.
    -Likewise, super easy, super reliable system to controll window shades using the same criteria.
    -When I'm away from home, text me a photo of anyone at the front door. (UPS delivery, etc). But only when the house is in "I'm gone" mode.
    -Interface should be super simple, for spouse acceptance factor, and to handle house-sitters. Ability to turn the "smart house" into a "dumb house" with a lightswitch. Sure, I want the GIU. The wife & kids will need a single button or light switch to do the basics.