CloudACM – Page 49 – Autonomous Computational Machines

Controller ins and outs

January 23, 2017 Patrick Gilfeather

Now I would like to return back to home automation and control. There are basically three components of the system; these are input devices, controllers, and output devices. Lets start by covering the heart of the system, the controllers. In this section I’ll cover the controllers. They fall into three categories, device, communications, and central. The central controller will be the Raspberry Pi. It is Rome and all roads lead to it. It takes input, produces output, and is what…

Encryption, AI, and the IoT word on the street

January 16, 2017 Patrick Gilfeather

One of the last stories I read about at the end of 2016 was about a hedge fund company and its use of AI, (Hedge fund turns to AI…https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/12/30/hedge-fund-turns-to-ai-to-navigate-through-the-maze/). The algorithms they use for trading stocks have been in place for quite some time now. The story struck me not because of this. What I found compelling was their intent on applying AI to their business operations. Bridgewater Associates has what they call a “Principles Operating System” or PriOS for…

Computer Control – Physical Input and Output

January 9, 2017 Patrick Gilfeather

I’ve briefly posted about my home heating control system. The reason I’m revisitnig it is I’d like to gather all the pieces together and show how they work. My heating system uses a hot water pump that circulates through pex tubing underneath the flooring, commonly known as radient floor heating. Controlling when the pump turns on or off is the focus of this discussion. The rating of the pump, a Taco 006-B4 Bronze Circulator Pump 3/4-Inch Sweat, is 115VAC at…