International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882

Volume 3 Issue 1, April 2014

Design and Construction of Microcontroller Based Wireless Remote

Controlled Industrial Electrical Appliances
Using ZigBee Technology
1,2

Lu Mai1, Min Zaw Oo2

Department of Electronic Engineering, Mandalay Technological University, Mandalay

ABSTRACT
Industrial automations which are mostly depend upon
the power systems & which requires distance controlled
and regulated systems. Wireless technology which meets
to cost, speed and distance will always be a point of an
interest for research. This research proposes
microcontroller based wireless remote controlled for
electric systems parameters like voltage and current
using ZigBee technology. PIC16F877A controller is
used in a predominant way because it is rich in
peripherals and hence many devices can be interfaced at
ease, it is also very cheap and can be easily assembled
and programmed. The PIC controller controls the
devices and sends the sensor values to the PC via ZigBee
module. Although Bluetooth is better than ZigBee for
transmission rate, ZigBee has lower power consumption.
Hence, ZigBee is generally used for 24 hours monitoring
of communication transmission systems. Its main feature
is its use of the ZigBee protocol as the communication
medium between the transmitter and receiver modules. It
illustrates that the new ZigBee standard performs well
industrial environments.
Keywords Microcontroller; wireless control network;
ZigBee.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The goal of the paper is to achieve intelligent device

control and secure environmental working conditions by
interfacing various sensors and devices to the
PIC16F877A microcontroller and ZigBee modules with
the PIC controller for data transmission respectively.
Wireless based industrial automation is a prime concern
in our day-to-day life. Industrial automations depend on
the power systems and which requires distance control
and regulated systems. Wireless Control Networks
(WCNs) have revolutionized the design of emerging
embedded systems and triggered a new set of potential

applications. In addition to building automation,

environmental surveillance, or military operations
Industrial automation is also expected to greatly benefit
from WSNs in terms of faster installation and
maintenance, cost savings, and easier plant
reconfiguration. ZigBee is an emerging short-range, lowrate wireless network technology. ZigBee also presents
some potentially interesting features for supporting
large-scale ubiquitous computing applications, namely
power-efficiency, timeliness and scalability.
In managing the move to wireless, it is clear that
common wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
can be utilized on the factory floor.
The challenge is to understand how to utilize wireless
solutions, developed for IT applications, as replacements
for wired systems in time-critical scenarios typical of
factory floor domains. To date, most wireless systems in
production systems are focused on applications that
require polling frequencies on the order of seconds or
longer. Standardization of technology again plays an
important role for globalization of these profile
developments. ZigBee due to its standardize operational
and network management properties will be suitable
wireless interface technique, ZigBee also have low data
rates over a middle distance and AES encryption
properties which are again guaranteed for required
communication system.

II.

MICROCONTROLLER

An Embedded system is a combination of computer

hardware and software, and perhaps additional
mechanical or other parts, designed to perform a specific
function. Embedded systems are usually a part of larger,
complex system. Dedicated applications, designed to
execute specific activities, are implemented and
embedded in systems. These embedded applications are
required to collaborate with the other components of an
enclosed system. Embedded application components

www.ijsret.org

79

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3 Issue 1, April 2014

interact mostly with the non-human external

environment. They continuously collect data from
sensors or other computer components and process data
within real-time constraints.
Microcontrollers are "embedded" inside some other
device (often a consumer product) so that they can
control the features or actions of the product. Another
name for a microcontroller, therefore, is "embedded
controller." Microcontrollers are dedicated to one task
and run one specific program. The program is stored in
ROM and generally does not change. They are often
low-power devices.
2.1. PIC Microcontroller
There are a wide variety of microcontrollers available to
implement various tasks, among them the 8051 and PIC
are the mostly used. The 8051 is probably the most
popular 8-bit microcontrollers ever. Many different I/O
features are integrated around the 8051 core to create a
microcontroller which needs only very little extra
hardware to do most of the jobs. The main disadvantage
of the standard 8051 core is that there's only one 16 bit
pointer register available. Moving a block of data is a
very tedious job which takes far too much data moving
overhead. It also does not have an internal Analog to
Digital Converter (ADC). PIC16F877A is an 8-bit
microcontroller which has 40 pin DIP and is based on
Harvard Architecture. PIC stands for Peripheral Interface
Controller and F for flash memory. The PIC16F877A
features 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory, selfprogramming, an LCD, 2 Comparators, 8 channels of
10-bit
Analogue
-to-Digital
converter,
2
capture/compare/PWM functions, the synchronous serial
port can be configured as either 3-wire Serial Peripheral
Interface for the 2-wire Inter-Integrated Circuit bus and a
Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter . All of
these features make it ideal for more advanced level A/D
applications in automotive, industrial, appliances and
consumer applications. So we have utilized the
MICROCHIP PIC16F877A microcontroller in the
project.
III.

specification was finalized in December 2004, and

products supporting the ZigBee standard are just now
beginning to enter the market. ZigBee is designed as a
low-cost, low power, low-data rate wireless mesh
technology. The ZigBee specification identifies three
kinds of devices that incorporate ZigBee radios, with all
three found in a typical ZigBee.
3.1.

Network Topology for ZigBee

The ZigBee network layer (NWK) supports star, tree,

and mesh topologies. In a star topology, the network is
controlled by one single device called the ZigBee
coordinator. The ZigBee coordinator is responsible for
initiating and maintaining the devices on the network.
All other devices, known as end devices, directly
communicate with the ZigBee coordinator. In mesh and
tree topologies, the ZigBee coordinator is responsible for
starting the network and for choosing certain key
network parameters, but the network may be extended
through the use of ZigBee routers. In tree networks,
routers move data and control messages through the
network using a hierarchical routing strategy. Tree
networks may employ beacon-oriented communication
as described in the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 specification.
Mesh networks allow full peer-to-peer communication.
ZigBee routers in mesh networks do not currently emit
regular IEEE 802.15.4-2003 beacons. This specification
describes only intra-PAN networks, that is, networks in
which communications begin and terminate within the
same network.

ABOUT ZIGBEE
Fig. 1. Network Topologies for ZigBee

ZigBee is the product of the ZigBee Alliance, an

organization of manufacturers dedicated to developing a
networking technology for small, ISM-band radios that
could welcome even the simplest industrial and home
end devices into wireless connectivity. The ZigBee

IV.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM FOR RESEARCH

The following figures are transmitter and receiver for

wireless remote control system.

www.ijsret.org

80

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3 Issue 1, April 2014

Fig. 2. Diagram for transmission unit

Fig. 4. Overall flow chart for research

Fig. 3. Diagram for received unit

V. SYSTEM DESIGN
The following flow charts are programming design for
this research.

Fig. 5. Flow chart for PIC controller

www.ijsret.org

81

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3 Issue 1, April 2014

Fig. 6. Flow chart for transmitting unit

Fig. 7. Flow chart for receiving unit

VI. CONSTRUCTION AND DISCUSSION
The following figures are shown for design and
construction of microcontroller based wireless remote
controlled industrial electrical appliances using ZigBee
technology.
6.1. Construction Diagram
The following figures are shown for the construction of
research.

www.ijsret.org

82

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3 Issue 1, April 2014

VII. CONCLUSION
Wireless communication is a cheap and easy way to
provide network communication at places where there is
no wired infrastructure. In this design, the ZigBee
provide low power consumption, low cost and simple
wireless communication to allow remote control and
current measurement of industrial outlets in order to save
power. ZigBee technology is suitable for the application
in power monitoring system. It can provide reliable
protection for the operation of electric power systems.
The system is small, simple, cost effective and good for
wireless control of equipment.

Fig. 8. Diagram for main control system

REFERENCES

Fig. 9. Diagram for remote control system

Fig. 10. Result diagram for C# program

6.2. Discussion
The remote control system offers to supervise and
manage power condition of electrical industrial
appliances. GUI is used in control area to create
interface between user and electronic devices. Relay is
used for turning the switch on and off. LDR is used to
know the status of electrical appliances from the PIC.
PIC to PC serial I/O connection is vital role in wireless
remote control system. The appropriate simulation result
has been implemented according to the system
requirements.

[1] Shizhuang Lin, Jingyu Liu, Yanjun Fang. ZigBee

Based Wireless Sensor Networks and Its Applications in
Industrial,IEEE
International
Conference
on
Automation and Logistics, 2007 .pp:1979 1983.
[2] Jui-Yu Cheng and Min-Hsiung Hung, Jen-Wei
Chang, A ZigBee-Based Power Monitoring System
with Direct Load Control Capabilities, 2007 IEEE
International Conference on TuesE04 Networking,
Sensing and Control, London, UK,
[3] Bhavneet Sidhu, Hardeep Singh, and Amit Chhabra.
Emerging Wireless Standards - WiFi, ZigBee and
WiMAX, World Academy of Science, Engineering and
Technology 25, 2007.
[4] Niu Dou, Yang Mei, Zhao Yanjuan, Zhang Yan.
The networking technology within Smart Home system
ZigBee Technology, 2009 International Forum on
Computer Science-Technology and Applications, 2009
IEEE.
[5] Jo Woon Chong, Ho Young Hwang, Chang Yong
Jung, and Dan Keun Sung. Analysis of Throughput and
Energy Consumption in a ZigBee Network under the
Presence of Bluetooth Interference. IEEE GLOBECOM
2007, 1930- 529X/07, 2007 IEEE.
[6] Jin-Shyan Lee, Chun-Chieh Chuang, and ChungChou Shen. Applications of Short-Range Wireless
Technologies to Industrial Automation: A ZigBee
Approach, 2009 Fifth Advanced International
Conference on Telecommunications, 2009 IEEE..
[7] The emergence of ZigBee in building automations
and industrial controls, IEE Computing &Control
Engineering, April/May 2005.
[8] Gunter Schmitt, Alessandro Trinca Voigt &
Haeffner. Remote Control and Monitoring of
Telecommunication Power Systems A big challenge for

www.ijsret.org

83

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3 Issue 1, April 2014

Telcos, Suppliers and Standardization Committees,

2007 IEEE.
[9] Christoph Spiegel, Sebastian Rickers, Guido H.
Bruck, Peter Jung, Woojin Shim, Rami Lee, Jaehwang
Yu. Low Power Networks The ZigBee Competition,
2009 IEEE.
[10] Il-Kyu Hwang, Member, IEEE and Dae-Sung Lee,
Jin-Wook Baek. Home Network Configuring Scheme
for All Electric Appliances Using ZigBee-based
Integrated Remote Controller, IEEE Transactions on
Consumer Electronics, Vol. 55, No. 3, AUGUST 2009.
[11] Y.Usha Devi 1, II M.Tech, Wireless Home
Automation System Using ZigBee, International
Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 3,
Issue 8, August-2012 1 ISSN 2229-5518.

www.ijsret.org

84