The history of building automation - milestones from 1600 to tomorrow

Dutch engineer Cornelius Drebbel invented the world’s first regulator for keeping egg incubators heated at a constant temperature. The feedback-controlled device he developed for this continued to be used until the 1970s.

Electrical circuits with exposed switches are too dangerous for everyday use. After Thomas Edison developed the first viable light bulb, there was a need for safe, insulated direct current (DC) switches. They were soon followed by plug sockets and rocker switches.

The electrification of households in Europe and the North America took place over the first three decades of the 20th century. Concerns about this new technology quickly gave way to enthusiasm about its enormous practical benefits. Today, living and working without electric lighting would be unthinkable in most of the world.

Nicolas Minorsky invented the PID controller, a control-loop mechanism that was initially used to steer ships. Before long, however, the same principle was applied to create the first analog device for controlling the feed temperature of heating systems. Until the development of digital automation systems (direct-digital control or DDC) in 1979, all control systems used for building automation were based on this principle.

The first systems were implemented for reporting problems in commercially used buildings. Echo IV (Electronic Computer Home Operator), a prototype home computer developed by Westinghouse Electric engineer James Sutherland, managed air conditioning, performed accounting tasks, and drew up shopping lists.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) were the first commercially available digital computers for controlling manufacturing processes. They were initially also used to control smart homes, consisting of a central processing unit to which peripherals were connected.

Direct digital control (DDC) unleashed a revolution. Its use exploded, greatly expanding the market for building automation control systems. The older pneumatic and analog instrumentation and control systems were displaced.

Ethernet prevailed as a cost-effective, fast, widespread and universally accepted standard for exchanging data. This technology paved the way for open, easily integrated systems.

BIM systems were the first software tools able to model, combine and capture all relevant data of a building. Networked planning, implementation, and operation made it possible to continuously model data over a building’s entire lifecycle―an indispensable prerequisite for creating today’s building automation systems.

BACnet, a nonproprietary or generic standard, paved the way for different building automation systems to communicate with one another. Three years later, the global KNX standard was introduced for commercial and domestic building automation. Installations with bus technology were standardized, thus greatly accelerating their adoption.

The Internet also transformed building automation: connectivity had a huge impact on the real estate sector, facility management, manufacturing, and systems integration. Wi-Fi debuted and the term “Internet of Things” (IoT) was coined.

In addition to the use of automation in commercial buildings, home automation network technology also took off. Digital control of lighting, windows, doors, blinds and indoor temperature became widespread.

Digitization accelerated further with the launch of the iPhone. A single device suddenly replaced media players, cell phones and mobile communicators. It was also lightweight, intuitive to use, and delivered additional benefits by supporting apps. About 270,000 were sold on the first two days after its release. Now, over a decade later, smartphones are an integral part of our everyday lives.

Operators began virtualizing their building management systems in data centers to benefit from greater security and availability. Cloud-based services also permitted more flexible access to building data.

Wi-Fi, together with an appropriate app, made it possible to flexibly and remotely control networked lamps in homes or commercial premises. The new smart lighting also included personalized light scenes, enhanced by motion sensors. Today, the ability to control lighting and multimedia is an important aspect of building automation.

Smartphones and tablet computers became established in industry and business as tools for controlling intelligent and location-based products. Increasingly digitized processes began transforming and simplifying the nature of work. This trend also influenced the equipment installed in buildings.

With voice-controlled email and text messages, audio files found their way into building automation: TTS began supporting preventive maintenance and inspections, service requests, work contracts, bidding, and equipment audits.

By 2016, some six billion devices were networked via the Internet of Things, and the figure for 2020 is estimated at 31 billion. The IoT began to heavily influence people’s lives and work. The importance of automation was steadily increasing in both new and existing buildings.

Commercial buildings were increasingly evolving into smart buildings. Building automation integrated technologies, software and systems. Routines were improved or automated, resulting in greater efficiency and comfort.

AI joined the spectrum of building systems. Intelligent video technology helps detect fires early, and clever algorithms predict future energy consumption. Behavioral patterns are identified by analyzing real-time data. The systems learn from all this and automatically adjust to conditions as appropriate.

Building automation consists of networked sensors and actuators. The systems and how they communicate have been standardized to the point that they can easily connect to many cloud-based services. Smart buildings interact with users and operators, their systems and their environment. Digital twins of buildings and intelligent technologies are giving rise to additional networked services.