Clever electric sockets will save energy

August 6th, 2012

Experts from Fraungofer's (Germany) Institute developed a platform, allowing to supervise operation of the devices connected to the home power supply network far off by means of the smartphone or the computer with Internet connection. The structure of system of household automation of HexaBus created on the mySmartGrid project, includes "clever" electric sockets with the built-in chip of a wireless communication and the special USB module which is connecting to a router. The platform is based on the Contiki operating system for built-in devices and the IPv6 protocol.
The user enters teams via the ordinary web browser or the special annex for Android-devices then they it is sent through a router to the socket on a wireless communication. The data link is bilateral: the system can send to the owner of the dwelling statistics about power consumption of each separate household appliance. Transferred information is ciphered according to the AES-128 protocol.
It is supposed that the HexaBus platform will allow to optimize an expense of an electricity and finally to lower costs of utilities. For example, being out of door, the user can start the washing machine when tariffs for the electric power are minimum in connection with small load of power supply networks. Or it is possible to activate the dishwashing combine in the maximum return established on a roof of the house of solar batteries.
The HexaBus system will allow forgetful users to switch off light left in the apartment far off. Approaching on the house, it will be possible to activate heating installation or the conditioner in advance.
Researchers say that "clever" sockets are already ready for commercial application. How many can cost HexaBus system introduction, it is not specified.