Smart Home Lighting Project
This project demonstrates how to build a connected lighting system for your home using Windows IoT Core. Control your lights remotely, schedule them, and integrate them with other smart devices for a truly automated living experience.
Project Overview
The Smart Home Lighting system leverages a Raspberry Pi or similar Single Board Computer running Windows IoT Core, connected to relays that control standard home light fixtures. Communication can be achieved via a web interface hosted on the device, a mobile app, or cloud services.
Key Features
- Remote On/Off control
- Dimming capabilities (if hardware supports)
- Scheduling and automation
- Integration with voice assistants (e.g., Cortana, Alexa via cloud)
- Status monitoring
- Energy saving potential
Hardware Requirements
- Single Board Computer (e.g., Raspberry Pi 2/3/4) with Windows IoT Core
- Relay module compatible with GPIO pins
- Power supply for the SBC
- Jumper wires and breadboard (for prototyping)
- Standard light fixtures and bulbs
- Optional: Sensors (e.g., PIR for motion detection, ambient light sensor)
Software & Development
Develop your IoT application using familiar languages and tools like C#, Visual Studio, and the Windows IoT Core project templates. You can build a UWP application for local control or a web service using ASP.NET Core for remote access.
Example Code Snippet (C# GPIO Control):
using Windows.Devices.Gpio;
public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
{
private const int RelayPinNumber = 17; // Example GPIO pin number
private GpioPin relayPin;
public MainPage()
{
this.InitializeComponent();
InitializeGpio();
}
private void InitializeGpio()
{
var controller = GpioController.GetDefault();
if (controller == null)
{
// Handle error: no GPIO controller found
return;
}
relayPin = controller.OpenPin(RelayPinNumber);
relayPin.SetDriveMode(GpioPinDriveMode.Output);
relayPin.Write(GpioPinValue.Low); // Ensure light is off initially
}
private void TurnLightOn()
{
if (relayPin != null)
{
relayPin.Write(GpioPinValue.High); // Assuming High turns the relay ON
}
}
private void TurnLightOff()
{
if (relayPin != null)
{
relayPin.Write(GpioPinValue.Low); // Assuming Low turns the relay OFF
}
}
}
For advanced features like web interfaces or cloud integration, explore libraries like SignalR for real-time communication or services like Azure IoT Hub.