Project Castle Guardian

Objectives:

1. Detect, alert, & actively monitor household when user is away via Amazon cloud camera & Arduino automation.

2. Have system wirelessly activate & deactivate by user input to stop monitoring when at home.

3. Develop camera manager unit that wirelessly manipulates all camera units via IR remote sensor.

Financial Analysis
Item:	Price:	Ship.:	Amnt.	Totals:	Source
HC12	$2.53	$2.63	4	20.64	HC12
Relay	$0.60	$1.58	3	6.54	Relay
Buzzer	$7.99	$0.00	1	7.99	Buzzer
Pigtail Antenna	$2.74	$2.95	4	22.76	Pigtail Antenna
Amazon Cloud Cam	$289.99	$0.00	3	289.99	Amazon Cloud Cam
Reed Switch	$0.94	$3.05	1	3.99	Reed Switch
Alarm	$24.95	$0.00	1	24.95	Alarm
Arduino Pro Mini	$1.66	$2.91	4	18.28	Arduino Mini
FTDI Programmer	$12.49	$0.00	1	12.49	FTDI Programmer
FTDI Cord	$6.49	$0.00	1	6.49	FTDI Cord
Project Box	$5.30	$2.05	4	29.4	Project Box
IR Remote	$12.63	$0.00	1	12.63	IR Remote
IR Receiver	$1.26	$0.39	1	1.65	IR Receiver
12VDC Plug	$13.49	$0.00	1	13.49	12VDC Plug
Buck Converter	$10.65	$0.00	4	42.6	Buck Converter

Total Price:

$513.87

Notes

1. The total price is a lot, but upon checkout from Amazon you may receive the option to break the $359 price tag for the cloud cams into smaller payments to not break the bank. Each camera comes with a wall mount & associated hardware to attach it to the wall & a power cord that is approximately ten to fifteen feet long. You can order a longer cord separately if you have an especially high mount; keep in mind that the cord is at a special angle to minimize interference & it getting in the way. Its easy to want to buy a generic usb cord, but I guarantee you that it will not fit into the camera & you will waste your money & your time.
2. The 12vdc plug must be spliced via scissors & wire stripper so that it can be soldered onto the buck convertor & reduced accordingly. Since the Arduino pro mini has a max input voltage of five volts, you have to reduce the voltage to avoid frying the programming board.
3. The reed switch is vital for system operation as it determines whether the arduino detects a high or low signal when completing a digitalRead() of the pin its connected to. Care must be taken to ensure both sides of the magnet are as close as possible to avoid a false read & triggering of the alarm system.

System Execution Overview

(Assuming system is about to be powered)

1. Upon power on, system executes auto channel finder code through HC12 & arduino.

2. User opens door, which activates buzzer to remind user to arm Castle Guardian. User takes out remote to input arm code by pointing it at IR receiver connected to Castle Guardian Manager (CGM).

3.The Castle Guardian Manager broadcasts arm signal, which turns cameras on by activating relay.

I. User has 3 tries to dis/arm sensor before a 15 second loud alarm activates & the arm signal is broadcast.

II. If Castle Guardian Manager is unplugged & therefore cannot send the repetitive arm signal the camera units will auto arm. This will occurs after a two minute timer in which the camera unit will listen for the dis/arm signal from the CGM.

4. With the system now armed, if the door is opened the Amazon cam will auto alert the user to the detection. The CGM will briefly activate the alarm for one second to warn the detection to input the disarm code & start a thirty second timer. If the disarm code is not presented then the loud alarm is activated for five minutes or until the correct code is presented.

5. Once the disarm code is given the CGM broadcasts a disarm signal & the loud alarm is deactivated.

Technical Interface Chart
Technical Item	Interfaces W/	Owning Sub System:
HC12	Other HC12 Arduino	Communication
Relay	Arduino Amazon Cam	Power
Buzzer	Arduino	Alarm
Pigtail Antenna	HC12	Communication
Amazon Cloud Cam	Relay User Phone	Alarm
Reed Switch	Arduino	Alarm
Alarm	Relay	Alarm
Arduino Pro Mini	ALL SYSTEMS	Programming
FTDI Programmer	Arduino	Programming
FTDI Cord	FTDI Programmer	Programming
Project Box	Encapsulates System	N/A
IR Remote	IR Receiver/Arduino	Alarm
IR Receiver	IR Remote Arduino	Alarm
12VDC Plug	Buck Converter	Power
Buck Converter	12VDC Plug Arduino	Power

Notes

 

1. The Technical Interface Chart serves as an aide to remind you what item interfaces with what so that you don’t forget something as you code & physically build your project
2. Items are also grouped into their respective subsystem to further identify the core role each item plays in the execution of the arduino code.

Sub System Interface Chart
Sub System	Interfaces With
Power	All Systems
Alarm	Programming>Communication
Programming	All Systems
Communication	Programming> Alarm

Notes

1. Much like the Technical Interface Chart, the Subsystem Interface Chart shows how subsystems relof ate to each other as code is executed.
2. Consolidates core tasks & responsibilities of each subsystem.

 

Stay tuned as my next post will be a video  of me assembling all materials by subsystem. Look out for my updates page to provide a date for the next phase of project Castle Guardian!