| What Is An IoT Based Led Lighting System? How Does It Work? |
The introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT) as the backbone of connected lighting systems enables seamless communication, context-sensitive services and data exchange between devices and things, radically transforming the industry and bringing together a wide range of vertical markets.
In the field of lighting, billions of resource-saving endpoints consist of physical devices, intelligent lights, sensors, infrastructural elements and gateways. The IoT opens these endpoints to regular Internet services and faster networks, enabling remote control and data acquisition from these devices.
The strong potential of lighting systems as IoT platforms coincides with strong product development, demand for connected lighting, complex energy codes and growing supply discounts. The ubiquity and perspective of the IoT-powered lighting industry will not only generate valuable light-based data and information for lighting control systems and other connected IoT systems, but also for building management, health care, communication and horticulture.
As a result, manufacturers sell their connected lighting products as IoT enabled, which means they have connectivity, intelligent sensors and two-stage data communication. In this scenario, networked lighting provides a sensor platform that can be installed in an integrated environment and provides wireless communication bandwidth, intelligence and microprocessor software.
IoT lighting offerings are often referred to as networked, smart or smart lighting systems. While some IoT-enabled lighting systems include simple passive infrared (PIR) occupancy and daylight sensors, most of them will in the future have advanced integrated sensors such as CO 2 sensors, IR imaging and radar sensors.
While IoT-enabled LED claims that installing a connected lighting system is proof of the possibility of future IoT implementation are true in theory, this requires care and requirements that address issues such as interoperability, scalability, security and more. Different connected lighting products may not be interoperable, and products from different manufacturers may not work with the same IoT communication protocols, even if they use an open and non-proprietary communication platform.
Intelligent lighting does not have to be equipped with internet-based lighting controls or sophisticated sensor-controlled algorithms. Localized intelligent lighting focuses on adding bi-directional communication links between lighting controllers and lighting devices, taking scalability and interoperability into account. Intelligent lighting is a point-to-point system that enables adaptation to the requirements by means of local sensors and individual local control.
Intelligent lighting uses IoT-enabled sensors and light bulb adapters to enable users to control their home and office lighting from their smartphones and smart home management platforms. Modern intelligent lighting systems are based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and feature advanced drivers. Intelligent lighting technologies are based on the concept of combining three main features: SSL (Solid State Lighting) technologies, universal communication interfaces and advanced controls.
With IoT technology in lighting, the prospects go far beyond dimming the light. With LED lighting and connected lighting systems in the IoT, it is possible to control the light from a user device. Sensors can be controlled when they sense the environment and know when to turn the light on and off, which is useful for reducing energy costs.
A lighting control system, which is part of an IoT environment, enables the monitoring of LED lights. To achieve this, the access and control of the lighting can be done automatically at the user’s discretion.
The digital nature of the LED illumination improves controllability and can be used to achieve a variety of lighting effects such as dimming, color changes, allocation behavior, etc. LED luminaires can be digitally controlled and are low-voltage semiconductors.
This makes them well-suited for connection to microchips and microcontrollers, in contrast to older high-voltage analog light sources.
With the further development of IoT technology, it has become possible to connect luminaires to the Internet. Intelligent IoT devices and sensors can help capture information about the lighting in real time. Sensors can also be integrated into household lights to improve hazard detection and emergency calls.
As everything becomes more energy efficient and provides people with a safe and well-lit space in which to live, work and do business, companies tend to use smart lighting technologies. Commercial facilities can use IoT-based LED lighting in their business cases, as these two solutions are the perfect way to reduce energy consumption and maximize financial impact on buildings.
The IoT-enabled smart lighting scores highly for reliability, scalability, robustness, interoperability and a wider range of point-to-point connections compared to network-based smart lighting. It is not surprising that IoT-based LED lighting in buildings has smart connections to ensure security, HVAC and analytical data. Thus, it is an excellent opportunity to introduce the Internet of Light as an advanced lighting system with IoT as its core.
In IoT applications, a lighting device is connected to the Internet and communicated over a local or extensive network. An intelligent light connects to its nearest network via its near-network control node, which is normally connected to a network router.
New applications are emerging that combine smart lighting with wireless communication, such as integrating Wi-Fi access points, beacons and lights into retail stores to provide shopper support, push marketing, location tracking and customer analysis.
Many vendors in this area are looking beyond pure light control and developing their cloud or on-premise control systems into more IoT platforms and APIs that allow other vendors to build automation devices and unify partner users and enable them to develop custom applications in addition to their management framework.
When the IoT hits the market, owners equipped with new LED lighting today are expected to keep the lights on for a long time before upgrading to maximize their return on investment. There is no question that when new generations of smart lights are introduced, the costs of existing networks will have to be addressed.
The time is ripe for new smart lighting with versatile and upgradeable sensors and interfaces that are ready to take advantage of the pace of progress in the cloud and deliver greater benefits to users.
The market preference for SSL systems is forecast to accelerate with the growth of connected and IoT (Internet of Things) lighting control systems in diverse markets, from smart homes to industrial lighting systems. Intelligent lighting is the automation of lamp reactions such as dimming and control in order to increase user comfort and save energy.
At its core, intelligent lighting systems are designed as flexible lighting systems whose aim is to improve visual comfort and energy efficiency. These systems offer advanced functions such as spectral control of the light source and the integration of multiple communication interfaces. In an intelligent lighting system the light is retained by energy-efficient LED drivers, advanced control algorithms, light sensors and communication interfaces that work together in a networked lighting network.
