Today’s Internet of Things (IoT) world is characterized by a multitude of solutions among which the user has the opportunity to choose platforms and technologies. Which of them are valuable?
The idea of IoT is simple – to connect smart things to the network. When speaking of smart home, connections between its elements should lead to the delivery of specific values to the user. In order to achieve them, both devices and platforms should offer integrated solutions.
Solutions dedicated to smart home systems should allow you to connect as many of its elements into a single, coherent network. Such a scenario allows to use the synergy effect among their operation. The challenge is faced within both, the IoT platform designers and third-party devices which have not yet offered smart devices.
Third-party companies i.e. manufacturers specialised in providing user with conventional solutions such as locks and heating systems aware of the era of digitisation, are expanding their portfolio with a tab named “smart”. One cannot talk about the idea of the world of the Internet of Things without taking into account interoperability, that is, the ability of devices to work together.
Today’s IoT environment provides ready-made solutions, mutually integrated. Among manufacturers who have not been present so far in the world of the Internet of Things, there is an increasing awareness of prevailing trends such as smart city, smart home, sustainable development. More and more new products have added value compared to their conventional version, i.e. remote control, programming action schedules (also called scenarios), modifying device activity using mobile or web apps. However, the greatest value is the interaction of devices in one larger, configured system.
SmartThings – from a Kickstarter to an acquisition concept
Devices debuting in the smart field should assume interoperability with larger smart home systems. SmartThings is an American concept designed to create a smart home platform. This idea appeared in 2012 as a Kickstarter project which turned into a startup that gives the ability to connect devices from multiple areas within one operating environment.
Developers of the open system assumed the possibility of supporting elements at the native and dedicated level. Generic (native) level was introduced by the platform developers themselves and assumes factory support, that is, the ability to use devices immediately after adding to the system. Dedicated support on the other hand, was created by the SmartThings community and is based on placing the source code in the system also referred to as the driver. Codes are created by the users themselves and published on websites to make them available to interested persons. FIBARO offers a similar solution with its Marketplace platform.
Such possibilities are provided by placing the logic of the system’s operation in the cloud, where the core of the system is a server located outside the user’s home. The principle of operation of such a solution takes into account the possession of a smart home HUB, which acts as a bridge between the elements (devices) physically located in the house and the server — the brain of the system.
Solution with multitude of features
Today, smart devices operating independently allow separate environments to control them. As a result, users having FIBARO Motion Sensor, smart watch, smart TV or smart lock have the ability to control each of these devices using dedicated, separate apps. According to the idea of IoT, a common solution is needed to integrate these environments which will allow you to operate a smart home from one app – the system. SmartThings by Samsung allows you to control all the elements with a single app that is intuitive and really simple. The user has the ability to control all devices operating in the Samsung ecosystem. These include household appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, HVAC appliances) and equipment specialised in building automation, such as FIBARO sensors or actuators. You no longer need to choose a single manufacturer to create a customized ecosystem for your individual needs. Such system can be created due to elements already present in the house, including smart refrigerator or washing machine.
SmartThings in its assumptions was a simple platform dedicated to integrate as many devices as possible and offer simple on/off and remote access features. These were the so-called Plug & Play solutions. At the time of the acquisition of the platform, it became clear that the Korean manufacturer would direct the strategy of developing the platform towards its solutions related to smart TVs, HVAC or widely understood household appliances. Another natural step in business growth was to focus on the development of professional building automation elements such as FIBARO smart home system hardware. Today, the user not only has a simple system features, but can also extend smart home solutions and combine professional building automation devices.
This solution can be supplemented with FIBARO devices dedicated to professional smart home solutions. A complete list of actors and sensors with scenarios for their use is availble here:
As a result of integration, FIBARO devices have been included in the list of compatible devices of one of the largest IoT platforms in the world.
The unique integrity with SmartThings
FIBARO devices based on Z-Wave protocol can work in a basic way with any smart home platforms using this type of communication. As an example, a FIBARO Flood Sensor which primary function is flood detection, will act properly within given technology platform. However, FIBARO devices have more to offer than just a simple set of features, such as temperature measurement and movement detection alarm. In order to use pro features of the devices, platform manufacturer conducts a process of dedicated integration i.e. adapting the use of such devices.
Samsung SmartThings has integrated devices to exploit the full potential of FIBARO devices.
Reason for such integration was the desire to fully support the potential of FIBARO products. The process of integrating Z-wave devices had began in 2018. The result is full supported devices portfolio:
- Flood Sensor,
- CO Sensor,
- Door/Window Sensor,
- Motion Sensor,
- Double Switch 2,
- Single Switch 2,
- Dimmer 2,
- Wall Plug EU and US with USB port,
- Smoke Sensor
FIBARO with its products is available in the compatibility list called “Works with SmartThings” next to such manufacturers as Tesla, Apple, Subaru or Garmin.
A smart home network perks
Using interoperability in the form of dedicated integrations gives opportunities to distract business models. The cooperation of solution manufacturers belonging to a single ecosystem allows us to create technology network aimed at meeting the needs of safety, energy saving or event detection.
As a result of introducing FIBARO to a list of compatible systems, the Vodafone V-Home project has been launched https://shop.v.vodafone.com/UK/v-home/detection-kit
Vodafone project provides a set of devices dedicated to fire detection, including FIBARO Smoke Sensor and SmartThings flood sensor.
This integration lets the user implement a number of scenarios defined by him or her, including managing AV equipment and household appliances at home.
To give an idea of such scenario, imagine starting the camera and changing the temperature when the motion sensor detects motion or doors are open because of the detected motion.
By working with Samsung SmartThings, users around the world get the opportunity to manage their home from phone, smart watch and voice assistants. From now on, every home appliances and electronics integrated into this platform works with the FIBARO system.