4. Hardware Specifications
The remote control consists of a microcontroller chip such as PIC16C5X. We use 2XAA NiMH [2] rechargeable batteries for the central remote which gives a voltage of 1.5V and a current of 700mA. The remote is formed from a moulded plastic, typically acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS [1]. The sensor for sending and receiving radio frequency waves is encased with a plastic called acrylic or a poly-carbonate. Capacitive touch screens may be used for the remote to increase ease of use.
The auxiliary remote works similar to a Wi-Fi router. It should contain radio frequency transceivers, the same as that in the central remote. The casing of the auxiliary remote is made using plastic like acrylic or a poly-carbonate [6]. The router can be circular in shape, with radius of about 1.5 inches. The circular shape ensures distribution of good signal strength uniformly in all directions.