AccScience Publishing / NSCE / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/NSCE026130010
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hybrid online/offline Internet of Things-based smart home automation with voice control, motion-based security, and environmental monitoring for developing regions

Ebot Stanis Brian-Etta1 ,  Njitacke Tabekoueng Zeric1*
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1 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, College of Technology, University of Buea, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon
NSCE, 026130010 https://doi.org/10.36922/NSCE026130010
Received: 25 March 2026 | Revised: 30 April 2026 | Accepted: 26 May 2026 | Published online: 19 June 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Smart home technology facilitates wireless control and monitoring of lighting, security, and heating/cooling systems. Although these systems have evolved significantly since the 1970s, adoption in developing regions is still hindered by high equipment costs and unreliable internet access. This study details the design and testing of a low-cost, hybrid (online/offline) Internet of Things-based smart home automation system, specifically built for developing areas. Using an ESP32 v4 microcontroller and the ESP RainMaker platform, the system can be managed through a mobile app, Google Assistant, or automated schedules when online. An infrared (IR) remote and physical manual switches work regardless of internet connectivity. Environmental monitoring includes a DHT22 temperature and humidity sensor for automated fan control, and an HC-SR501 passive IR motion sensor activates security lights and sends real-time alerts. Experimental bench testing (n = 25 per method) conducted over seven days showed average response times of 1.56 s for voice control, 1.43 s for app control, and 0.91 s for IR remote operation, while manual switches responded in under 0.4 s. Success rates were 94.33% under normal Wi-Fi conditions, 88.0% under poor connectivity, and 98.6% in offline mode. Energy savings were estimated to be around 21% based on scheduling performance. A six-month field trial in Cameroon confirmed that although cloud-based features may be affected during network congestion, the hybrid architecture maintains continuous system operation. Supporting up to 10 controllable loads, the system provides a low-cost and scalable solution for smart home deployment in developing regions.

Keywords
Internet of Things-based smart home automation
Google Assistant
ESP RainMaker
Multi-modal control
Temperature monitoring
Motion-based security
Infrared remote control
Hybrid system
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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