Novi is a 4-in-1 DIY home security system

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Say goodbye to contracts, monthly fees and false alarms.

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Did you know that four burglaries occur every minute in the United States alone? That’s a startling one every 15 seconds. The good news is that most convicted burglars (90%) claim they want to avoid homes with alarm systems, saying that if they did encounter an alarm, they would abandon the attack. However, the bad news is that nearly two-thirds of homeowners fail to turn it on at all times. And, when it comes to security, many are often faced with expensive systems and pricey monitoring fees. Understandably so.

However, one Provo, Utah-based startup is looking to change that with their new IoT solution. Novi Security is a 4-in-1 DIY security system that’s making it increasingly easier for homeowners to install small detectors throughout their house that can notify them of any motion or smoke — all without the need of contracts and monthly costs!

The kit is comprised of a base station and sensors, and are equipped with an ATmega128 radio and an Atmel | SMART SAM4S processor. The battery-powered sensors are simply affixed to the ceiling and boast an HD camera, motion and smoke detectors, and siren. This allows the system to provide homeowners a peace of mind by sending a series of three photos right to their mobile device, while immediately emitting a siren if smoke or motion are recognized while away.

In the event that this occurs, the alarm will sound, the monitor will relay the images to the base station (plugged directly into a router), and the base station will transmit the photos over to an accompanying app. Once the alert is received on the smartphone, the user will then have the option to call for help, check in at home, arm/disarm, as well as request more pictures for greater clarity.

Build your own wireless home security system with Arduino

Are you planning on installing a security system in your home soon? Before you start pricing, take a look at this DIY guide from Instructables user Deba168. After all, why buy when you can make your own?

Deba168’s system utilizes a pair of Arduino boards, an RF transmitter, a PIR motion sensor and a few other components to piece it all together. The device primarily uses a PIR motion sensor to detect movement, once triggered, this sensor pings an Arduino unit that catalogs the data. Along with the infrared sensor and Arduino, another Arduino board is employed to control alarms and alerts. The Maker notes that he selected an Arduino Nano (ATmega328) for the transmitter, but that either an Atmel-based Arduino Uno or Pro Mini would also suffice.

In an effort to further secure his home, Deba168 lengthened the range of his device by including an antenna on the RF transmitter and receiver module. “If you look carefully in to the RF transmitter and receiver module there is no external antenna included,” the Maker notes.

While the system now alerts users to motion, Deba168 hopes to include even more functionality in the future. The Maker plans on looking into including an alert for open doors and another notification if appliances are left on. He is also is contemplating how to incorporate a digital camera to take pictures when the motion sensor is triggered.

Pieces this all together and you’ve got a pretty cheap and easy way to keep an eye on things around the house. To read Deba168’s full tutorial, you can check out the original Instructables post here. If you want to browse other ingenious Arduino-powered projects, head over to our Bits & Pieces archives.