Remote smart lighting control and application

Smart technology and the induction of smart controls has been around for a while now, but there still is a big gap to integrate it rightfully for our most immediate environment – into the network, equipment, and devices we use on a day-to-day basis.  “According to the Smart Homes Association, smart technology when implemented rightfully, the technology and services through the home or office network can harness and achieve a substantial improvement in the quality of living.” (Rosslin John Robles, 2010) On hindsight, we dive in this case to through applying smart technology, to achieving greater cost-savings for our partner.

The problem statements were first highlighted to us:

1. There is a notable amount of days where the lights in the office were switched on due to late night meetings conducted beyond office hours.
2. The employees in this case were unaware of where the manual switches were as the new interior design has hidden out of sight
3. A problem of over-usage where the lighting was left switched on overnight.

The requirements of the project were also further stated and developed:

1. The manual over-riding of the switch should be still available even with a solution
2. The solution experience should be easily communicating to all potential users
3. The solution function should be able to run remotely

As such, that began our search for a viable solution – which leads us to finding and integrating a smart Bluetooth low-energy controller device and hooking it up to a live gateway where the entire floor-plan could be monitored virtually. Interestingly, as we explore with the device, it was also known that single of this gateway could speak to an unlimited number of controllers, as long as within range.

Each of the controller is synced up to a single circuit with a maximum load allowable, controlling several lights that lights up a unique area in the office. This enables us to zone the office according to its function, creating an add-on function for our partner.

All-in-all, we managed to create a turnkey solution and now our partner could monitor their usage of light fittings remotely, through an understandable interface and an additional zoning function where usage of areas of the space can be monitored as well. This is all achieved while still having the flexibility to use their existing switch when needed.

As a lighting specialist, we could also foresee its potential, as now we could also monitor the installation and troubleshooting critically remotely. This could set forth a new frontier in maintainability for lighting while meeting to our partner’s needs.