# Home Automation Challenge **URL:** \ **Category:** Projects & Stories\ **Tags:** project\_wholehouse\ **Created:** [April 15, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356 "2016-04-15T17:49:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SBDOBRESCU](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/sbdobrescu/32/30067_2.png) [@SBDOBRESCU](https://community.smartthings.com/u/SBDOBRESCU)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/1 "2016-04-15T17:49:03Z")
Continuing the discussion from [A Message from Alex on Platform Improvements and Our Plan Forward](https://community.smartthings.com/t/a-message-from-alex-on-platform-improvements-and-our-plan-forward/45269/97): Who wants to replicate what @alex has done in his home three years ago…Testimony of how the automation was achieved may include smart app code, recorded videos and reliablility notes. Maybe @alex and @ben can come up with a prize for those who are successful?! > [@A Message from Alex on Platform Improvements and Our Plan Forward](https://community.smartthings.com/t/a-message-from-alex-on-platform-improvements-and-our-plan-forward/45269/94): > > When I arrive at home my garage door opens appropriately depending on what car I am driving. It then closes behind me automatically once I’ve parked and enter the house. The lights come on and everything else wakes up or sets itself according to my preferences automatically. > > When I leave the doors (including garage) let me know if I forgot to close or lock them and then lock and close themselves as needed. If no one else is at home, the thermostat automatically turns itself down to save energy, the lights go off, and it enters a secure mode. > > My toddler’s room isn’t insulated well and so gets cold at night when his door is shut. When that happens a virtual thermostat kicks on that measures the temperature in his individual room and controls a space heater automatically to keep it within 1 degree of the desired temperature. > > When we wake up in the morning, the secure mode automatically turns off (it knows that motion started in our bedrooms and emanated outwards thus it’s not an intruder) and the lights come on in the kitchen. The coffee pot starts brewing so that it’s flowing by the time I get downstairs so that I can combat the feeling of the all-nighters we’ve been pulling in building the platform. > > My cat gets fed automatically on a schedule. > > When my wife and I are watching a movie in the basement or doing something else when the kids are supposed to be in bed, the lights flash wherever we are as a warning if the kids are up and around. > > Lots and lots of smaller and larger examples, but its really only limited now by the new SmartApps and Things that will get added to the platform by the open community. It has already changed my life completely, but it’s unbelievably awesome to think about the possibilities that are going to come from the community working together! ---
**Author:** ![jstraughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jstraughn](https://community.smartthings.com/u/jstraughn)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/2 "2016-04-15T18:04:33Z")
I don’t have all the gear to make this happen but honestly while reading it I build almost everything in my head with RM and it was pretty easy. Let’s say all the platform issues are now stable, the biggest Achilles heal right now for this is reliable presence. I suppose people’s implementations of iBeacons may solve some of that? But it would be a fun exercise nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![SBDOBRESCU](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/sbdobrescu/32/30067_2.png) [@SBDOBRESCU](https://community.smartthings.com/u/SBDOBRESCU)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/3 "2016-04-15T18:12:19Z")
I’ve had most of these examples working in my home before v2 came around and never rebuilt them for the reliability reasons. I am willing to give it another try, but this time documenting the actual reliability issues for each example… ---
**Author:** ![jstraughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jstraughn](https://community.smartthings.com/u/jstraughn)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/4 "2016-04-15T18:16:21Z")
I might try stuff like this again if presence is ever reliable. We have four android phones in the house. One for each person. Mine was the only one that was working everyday it seemed. That was until 4/13. After two days now my phone finally reports correctly. I pretty much had to walk away from any “presence” automations over a year ago. ---
**Author:** ![bamarayne](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/bamarayne/32/18206_2.png) [@bamarayne](https://community.smartthings.com/u/bamarayne)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/5 "2016-04-15T18:54:56Z")
The biggest challenge for me is the number of people in my house… Me Wife Mom Dad. (These two live really close and are in and out a lot. Teenager 1 Teenager 2 Teenager 3 **EDIT** added a six y/o to the mix Baby Dog Stupid cat 1 Dumbass cat 2 Psycho cat 3 Little bitch cat 4 My house is almost never NOT a three ring circus! ! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Haskins](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/paul_haskins/32/105059_2.png) [@Paul\_Haskins](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Paul_Haskins)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/6 "2016-04-15T19:38:36Z")
> [@bamarayne](#): > > My house is almost never NOT a three ring circus! ! It can’t be a circus - it’s a ZOO !! ---
**Author:** ![michaelahess](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/michaelahess/32/27733_2.png) [@michaelahess](https://community.smartthings.com/u/michaelahess)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/7 "2016-04-15T21:02:07Z")
I dislike my 3 cats as well…the dogs, kids, and wife are still ok, for now. Cat’s have drastically limited what I can automate, because cats. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicpapa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/atomicpapa/32/22538_2.png) [@Atomicpapa](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Atomicpapa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/8 "2016-04-15T21:44:37Z")
> [@michaelahess](#): > > I dislike my 3 cats as well…the dogs, kids, and wife are still ok, for now. Cat’s have drastically limited what I can automate, because cats. I prefer my cats. They leave me alone to automate as I wish. The wife stops far more of it than they do. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Maxwell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/mike_maxwell/32/18673_2.png) [@Mike\_Maxwell](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Mike_Maxwell)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/9 "2016-04-15T22:06:42Z")
Spot motion mod… ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/original/3X/6/0/602a4a5bb53c72df82bf3283a4c4c720c907f49b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![desertblade](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/desertblade/32/20506_2.png) [@desertblade](https://community.smartthings.com/u/desertblade)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/10 "2016-04-15T22:46:48Z")
> [@SBDOBRESCU](#): > > When my wife and I are watching a movie in the basement or doing something else when the kids are supposed to be in bed, the lights flash wherever we are as a warning if the kids are up and around. Why would you need this? 🤔 Most of this is doable with currently platform, even without RM. I do wish ST had a better rule engine, its very limiting, hence they need for RM. edit: I would also never use automation for physical security like auto open garage doors or unlock doors. I do have rules to secure house though. ---
**Author:** ![bamarayne](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/bamarayne/32/18206_2.png) [@bamarayne](https://community.smartthings.com/u/bamarayne)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/11 "2016-04-15T23:08:52Z")
> [@desertblade](#): > > Why would you need this? 🤔 Dude… The basement… Movie… Why do You think they need it? ? ? ? ---
**Author:** ![desertblade](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/desertblade/32/20506_2.png) [@desertblade](https://community.smartthings.com/u/desertblade)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/12 "2016-04-15T23:09:37Z")
Cause the movie is scary? ---
**Author:** ![michaelahess](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/michaelahess/32/27733_2.png) [@michaelahess](https://community.smartthings.com/u/michaelahess)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/13 "2016-04-16T00:11:40Z")
Do you have children? Do you enjoy punishing those children? Then you need this. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![diehllane](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/diehllane/32/22571_2.png) [@diehllane](https://community.smartthings.com/u/diehllane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/14 "2016-04-16T00:12:32Z")
I’m just waiting for someone to start using ST to feed their children everyday instead of their pets. Then I will be impressed. ---
**Author:** ![michaelahess](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/michaelahess/32/27733_2.png) [@michaelahess](https://community.smartthings.com/u/michaelahess)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/15 "2016-04-16T00:14:55Z")
My children quickly learned to feed themselves. They realized it was either that or starve. 🙂 I strongly believe every human should be self sufficient, by 5. ---
**Author:** ![diehllane](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/diehllane/32/22571_2.png) [@diehllane](https://community.smartthings.com/u/diehllane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/16 "2016-04-16T00:15:45Z")
It’s good to see Ron Swanson on the forums as a supporter of ST! ---
**Author:** ![slagle](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/slagle/32/16950_2.png) [@slagle](https://community.smartthings.com/u/slagle)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/17 "2016-04-16T00:20:25Z")
> [@diehllane](#): > > It’s good to see Ron Swanson on the forums as a supporter of ST! Ha!!! ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/original/3X/e/7/e7de0929a9bed3610afc1025a67ea67af2999d46.gif) ---
**Author:** ![a4refillpad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/a4refillpad/32/22801_2.png) [@a4refillpad](https://community.smartthings.com/u/a4refillpad)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/18 "2016-04-16T01:02:06Z")
> [@desertblade](#): > > asement or doing something else when the kids are supposed to be in bed, the lights flash wherever we are as a warning if the kids are up and around. How exactly does @alex do this? Without custom code and modifying DTH you cannot flash lights in smartthings. One of the biggest drawbacks of the system when I first learned that smartthings could not flash lights like hue or even IFTTT do. ---
**Author:** ![bamarayne](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/bamarayne/32/18206_2.png) [@bamarayne](https://community.smartthings.com/u/bamarayne)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/19 "2016-04-16T02:00:33Z")
> [@a4refillpad](#): > > How exactly does @alex do this? Without custom code and modifying DTH you cannot flash lights in smartthings. One of the biggest drawbacks of the system when I first learned that smartthings could not flash lights like hue or even IFTTT do. That statement is 3 years old. Back then, you could flash lights. ---
**Author:** ![sgnihttrams](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/sgnihttrams/32/32358_2.png) [@sgnihttrams](https://community.smartthings.com/u/sgnihttrams)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356/20 "2016-04-16T16:11:14Z")
> [@a4refillpad](#): > > > [@desertblade](#): > > > > asement or doing something else when the kids are supposed to be in bed, the lights flash wherever we are as a warning if the kids are up and around. > > How exactly does @alex do this? Without custom code and modifying DTH you cannot flash lights in smartthings. One of the biggest drawbacks of the system when I first learned that smartthings could not flash lights like hue or even IFTTT do. I know that custom code is still needed in RM, but flashing is actually built into the GE Link bulbs. So, no DH modifications are necessary. If you want flashing lights for alerts (I use this), just get a GE Link bulb (pretty cheap when on sale now days), and dust off your copy of RM. 🙂 [Next page](https://community.smartthings.com/t/home-automation-challenge/45356.md?page=2)