The OpenHome Project: A Non-IoT, Local-First Home Automation System

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   Philosophy

   This is a 100% local, open-hardware, open-protocol home automation system designed to never stop working because a company goes out of business or shuts down a cloud service. It uses off-the-shelf parts, low-cost DIY sensors, and open RF protocols to create a self-healing mesh network that doesn’t rely on the internet, proprietary hubs, or vendor lock-in.

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   Core Principles

   1. No Cloud Dependence – Everything runs locally, no internet required.

   2. Open Protocols – No proprietary RF standards (Zigbee/Z-Wave can stay).

   3. Modular Hardware – Mix and match sensors, switches, and controllers.

   4. Low Power – Solar/battery sensors last years, not months.

   5. Self-Healing Mesh – Nodes relay data if the hub is offline.

   6. User Control – No hidden telemetry, no forced updates.

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   Hardware Breakdown

   1. The Central Hub (Home Controller)

   Purpose: Coordinates the mesh, runs automations, serves the web UI.

   Recommended Hardware

   • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (or Pi 5 for more power)

     • Runs Linux, WiFi for local access, Ethernet optional.

   • RF Modules:

     • nRF24L01+ (2.4GHz, cheap, good for indoor mesh).

     • LoRa (RFM95W) (long-range for garden/weather).

   • Power:

     • USB-C or PoE (for reliability).

   • User Interface:

     • Headless (access via browser) or tiny OLED for IP display.

   How It Works

   • Acts as a WiFi access point on first boot (like a router).

   • Users connect, configure WiFi, then it switches to local mode.

   • Web UI (Flask, Node-RED, or Home Assistant Core) for control.

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   2. Indoor Sensors & Switches (Mesh Network)

   Purpose: Motion, temperature, light, relays for lights/appliances.

   Recommended Hardware

   • MCU: RP2040 (Pico) or ATmega328P (Arduino).

   • Radio: nRF24L01+ (cheap, reliable, easy to use).

   • Sensors:

     • BME280 (temp/humidity/pressure).

     • PIR sensor (motion).

     • Photoresistor (light level).

   • Power:

     • 2xAA batteries (1+ year life).

     • USB-powered for always-on switches.

   Low-Power Operation

   • Sleep Mode: MCU sleeps 99% of the time, wakes only to send data.

   • Synchronized Wake-Up:

     • Hub broadcasts a "beacon" every 60 sec.

     • Nodes wake, check for messages, then sleep again.

   • Mesh Relay: If a node can’t reach the hub, it forwards data via neighbors.

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   3. Garden/Weather Station (LoRa Network)

   Purpose: Soil moisture, weather tracking, water valve control.

   Recommended Hardware

   • MCU: Raspberry Pi Pico (low power, cheap).

   • Radio: RFM95W (LoRa, long-range).

   • Sensors:

     • Capacitive Soil Moisture (no corrosion).

     • Rain Gauge (tipping bucket).

     • Solar Radiation Sensor (photodiode).

   • Power:

     • Solar Panel (6V, 2W) + Supercapacitor (no battery decay).

     • Deep Sleep: Wakes only to transmit (e.g., every 15 min).

   Smart Watering Logic

   python

   Copy

   Download

   if (soil_moisture < 30%) and (no_rain_forecast):  
       open_valve(5min)  
   elif (temperature > 35°C):  
       open_valve(2min)  # Cool roots  

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   4. Synchronized Low-Power Mesh

   How Nodes Stay Alive for Years

   1. Hub-Controlled Sleep Scheduling

      • Hub sends a sync packet every hour.

      • Nodes wake up, check in, then go back to sleep.

   2. Event-Based Wake-Up

      • Motion sensors stay asleep until triggered.

      • Soil sensors wake only at scheduled intervals.

   3. Solar Harvesting

      • Garden nodes sleep until supercapacitor is charged.

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   5. Open Protocols Used

   Function	Protocol	Why?
   Indoor Mesh	nRF24L01+ (MySensors)	Cheap, reliable, easy to implement
   Garden LoRa	RFM95W (LoRaWAN)	Long-range, low power
   Hub Communication	MQTT (local)	Lightweight, universal support
   Web Interface	HTTP/REST	No apps, works on any device

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   6. Build vs. Buy Options

   Part	DIY (Cost)	Pre-Built (Cost)
   Hub	Pi Zero 2W + nRF24 ($25)	-
   Motion Sensor	Pico + PIR ($8)	$15 (AliExpress)
   Soil Sensor	Pico + Capacitive ($12)	$25 (commercial)

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   7. Kickstarter Potential

   Why This Could Work

   • "No More Bricked Devices" – Unlike Nest, this won’t die when a company loses interest.

   • "Build Your Own or Buy Pre-Made" – Open designs appeal to tinkerers and regular users.

   • "Farm-to-Table Home Automation" – No middleman, no spyware, no subscriptions.

   Stretch Goals

   • ESP-NOW support (for WiFi-based nodes).

   • Matter Bridge (optional compatibility with Alexa/HomeKit).

   • GSM Backup (for SMS alerts without WiFi).

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   Final Pitch

   This is home automation the way it should be:
   ✅ Local-only (no internet needed).
   ✅ Open hardware (no vendor lock-in).
   ✅ Low power (batteries last years).
   ✅ Self-healing (mesh keeps working if one node dies).
   ✅ DIY-friendly (build sensors for pennies).

   "Your smart home shouldn’t be held hostage by a corporation."

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   Next Steps

   1. Prototype the Hub (Pi + nRF24L01+).

   2. Build a Solar-Powered Soil Sensor (Pico + LoRa).

   3. Write the Mesh Protocol (simple binary packets).

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