Many companies offer equipment for the automation of processes in urban apartments and private mansions. Products have their advantages and disadvantages, a different price range and feature set. Against the background of competitors' products, the Xiaomi smart home system, made by the leader of Chinese and world electronics, stands out. The quality of the company's products is evidenced by its confident leadership among competing firms. At an affordable price, Xiaomi smart home is characterized by ease of use, reliability and functionality.
Xiaomi smart home system description
The Chinese company Xiaomi was founded in 2010. The focus was on digital technology. In 2014, the first version of home automation was released, consisting of an electronic lamp, a socket, a surveillance camera and an infrared control unit. Since then, the company has significantly expanded the volume and scope of production of home electronics. As of the beginning of 2020, the range of Smart Home systems manufactured by the corporation is approaching a thousand positions.
Structurally, automatic control systems produced by the company are divided into the following categories:
- Wired, battery-powered, with one port in which the modules are combined into one network.
- Wireless They are closed to local Wi-Fi, they receive power from a household 220V network.
- Radio-controlled. Switching devices is carried out via Bluetooth, energy is supplied from the power supply to 12V.
All systems are designed to ensure a healthy microclimate, comfort and safety of people living in the house with their minimal participation in the management and control process.
Xiaomi smart home is a complex and multifunctional design that controls the climate and lighting of the room, responds to emergencies, gives an alarm when an illegal intrusion occurs, turns on household appliances at an alarm or at a specific time.
Xiaomi smart home kit device review
The Xiaomi mi smart home hardware kit is a collection of devices integrated into one circuit, each of which performs a specific function. The number of options in one system is limited only by the number of objects that need to be automated. The product can be purchased in the kit or buy individual modules when they become necessary.
The Xiaomi Smart Home kit includes the following devices:
- Hub The central unit used to control the modules installed in the premises. Through the hub, the parameters and the operating mode of the elements of the smart home are configured. The hub housing is a white plastic cylinder with a display, speaker and LED crystals. Included is the adapter needed to connect to the network. The control module itself can perform the functions of a night lamp, indicator, alarm clock, radio and MP3 player. In addition, the button activates the armed mode. Synchronization of connected devices is carried out according to the ZigBee protocol, which provides energy savings and protection of transmitted data. Due to this, on one battery the product can autonomously work up to two years.
- Window or door opening sensor. Devices are designed to ensure the safety of housing. Trigger occurs when opening the leaves and canvases. The element consists of a reed switch and a magnet. Fastening to the base is done with double-sided tape. Each sensor is equipped with an operation indicator and a hidden on / off button.The devices are powered by a portable battery.
- Motion Sensor. It has a wide range of applications. Activates CCTV, alarm and lighting systems. The product is a small plastic cylinder measuring 30x30 mm. On the case there is a sensor window and a power button. The operating range is up to 7 m with a coverage sector of 170 degrees. The sensor can be installed in any position on the countertop, walls and ceiling.
- Wireless button. It is a touch-sensitive device for controlling system options by single, double and long pressing. The controller configuration is adapted to the size and shape of the palm, which allows you to use it with maximum convenience.
In addition to the standard set, you can connect several more devices to Xiaomi smart home, the list of which is constantly growing as the company products improve.
The main components of a smart home
When designing and creating a smart home using the Xiaomi Smart kit, you need to take into account every detail and take into account all the nuances. The advantage of the Chinese-made system is that at any time you can connect additional components and easily configure them.
A full set of automation includes such functions:
- Safety system. Without this option, the installation of other equipment makes no sense, as it can be stolen, damaged or destroyed. The basis of the design are sensors, the type of which best suits the environmental conditions, the traffic intensity near the site and the configuration of the fence. When a hazard is detected, the sensors send a signal to the control module, which turns on the alarm. All this will not be able to delay the attackers, but will help to put them to flight.
- The microclimate in the house. The well-being and health of its residents directly depends on the microclimate in the premises. As indicators, temperature and humidity sensors are used, which need to be configured and connected to smart sockets. When changing the properties of air, household appliances are turned on, bringing its parameters to preset values. Similarly, heating works with a thermostat, provided that it is autonomous.
- Smart lighting. In this direction, real estate owners have virtually unlimited possibilities. You can make it so that the device will independently turn on and off the lamp and adjust the level of illumination depending on the time of day.
Having shown imagination, it is possible to automate almost all processes, making living in a building or apartment as comfortable as possible.
Household Automation
Using Xiaomi smart applications allows you to control even those processes that are traditionally considered manual.
Kitchen:
- stove - controlled remotely from a smartphone;
- gas furnace - equipped with a gas leakage sensor, integrated with a hood;
- exhaust hood - controlled by voice or turned on when vapor and smoke are detected;
- refrigerator - a three-chamber product is equipped with air cooling and a disinfecting filter, the built-in display performs the functions of a telephone, a TV and a collection of recipes;
- rice cooker - has 300 cooking recipes, controlled by sensors or a smartphone;
- coffee maker - fully automated, provides remote control of the device with the ability to select the strength of the drink;
- multi-purpose kitchen machine - heats water, prepares juices and compotes, the degree of their readiness and temperature is transmitted via a router to a smartphone;
- electric kettle - the water temperature is set and controlled through a mobile device;
Bathroom:
- diffuser for sink tap - the water supply is switched on non-contact when approaching the hand;
- soap dispenser - delivers liquid without contact with a button by the signal of an infrared sensor;
- toilet seat - has anatomical properties, is equipped with the functions of a bidet, backlight, heating, air freshening and automatic flushing;
Microclimate and cleanliness:
- sterilizer - a multifunctional machine that performs washing, disinfection and drying of dishes;
- self-recharging robot vacuum cleaner - provides dry cleaning in rooms, the application makes it possible to start equipment and monitor the process;
- washing machine - with a load of 8 kg it has protection against leaks, short circuits and the ability to remotely control and monitor;
- garbage basket - as the bags are filled, they extract and seal used ones, and install new containers;
Other:
- drinker-dispenser for animals - the product provides pets with filtered water as it is spent;
- control sensor for plants - after analyzing the level of humidity, light and temperature, it gives a signal to the phone of the owner that it is time to water the flower;
- home theater - the device plays photos, TV signals, films, music, use as a touch computer monitor.
Not all people have the financial resources to buy all the equipment at once. You can start with lighting, then assemble the media block. So you can create a full-fledged smart home in a few years. This solution is convenient because the modules are sold ready-made, for their connection there is no need to have special skills. Complete with devices are detailed and understandable user manuals.
Organization of work and installation of the program
Assembling a home automation system should be done in stages, introducing the next options after installing, configuring, and verifying the health of previous ones. Such a process may take longer, but will simplify the work.
When drawing up a project, the following rules should be considered:
- The actual need for a module. The product may be unclaimed or not suitable for the operating conditions.
- Easy device management. It should be clear to all residents.
- Correspondence of the goods to the interior of the room.
Installation of devices and their connection can be performed even by a novice wizard, who has basic skills for using a smartphone.
Connecting a smart home is carried out using the Xiaomi Smart Home application, which is freely available on the Internet. You can download it on Google Play for Android OS or in the App Store for Apple OS. After installing the application, you can immediately begin to configure the system.
Please note that the translation of the application is poor. Only a Chinese and English expert with good analytical skills can understand it. It’s easier to find a competent review on the Internet or download a smart translation from the w3bsit3-dns.com website. It contains the connection sequence and the plugins needed for it.
Smart Home Scenarios
Creating and customizing scripts is an interesting and creative event. It is determined by factors such as the number of modules, imagination, and real estate features.
Lighting control may include the following options:
- automatic turning on and off the lamps as a person moves along the corridors, rooms and paths of the house;
- activation of lamps after dark and their shutdown at dawn;
- various night light modes.
Climate control using timers and sensors may be equally interesting:
- activation of devices at lower temperatures and changes in humidity;
- switching off air conditioners, dehumidifiers and humidifiers when triggering sensors opening windows and doors;
- work of heaters on a certain schedule;
- creating an optimal microclimate in the room when a person appears in it.
You can also be creative when creating a security system:
- the use of the Xiaomi video doorphone to fix people coming in when their hosts are away from the house;
- activation of sirens, cameras and searchlights when triggered by motion sensors;
- overlapping gas and water when leaks are detected;
- inclusion of the backup generator in case of power outages.
With sufficient resources, ingenuity and imagination, using Xiaomi technology, you can create a real smart home of your dreams.
