Panorama of Smart Home
-
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of smart home technology, offering insights into the full spectrum of smart home applications.
2014 marked the inception of smart home technology, yet 85% of people remain unaware of its concept and the functionalities it should encompass. Current technology is still in its infancy, lacking unified standards, which has led to consumer dissatisfaction with existing products.
Smart home products span a wide range of industries, including lifestyle entertainment, security, and healthcare, among other applications. They can be categorized into: convenient and energy-efficient home life products, networked systems, human-machine interaction transitioning from mobile control to voice control, and manufacturers' supply chain platforms promoting personalized and precise marketing services.
Currently, the dominant control mode is "mobile + ZIGBEE/RF/WIFI," but manufacturers' smart home systems have clear advantages. Existing smart speakers, routers, and service robots are transitioning into smart control centers.
Smart home technology is primarily applied in high-end markets such as villas and smart communities, with the fastest-growing sectors being smart hotels and offices. Development in ordinary households is slower. The front-end market is still dominated by the "manufacturer-agent (real estate developer or system provider)-consumer" model, accounting for 80% of sales.
Statistics show that smart buildings constitute 70% of new constructions in the U.S., 60% in Japan, and only 30% in China, but the market size is growing at an annual rate of 30%.
A complete smart home system includes basic functionalities: smart lighting control, appliance control, and security control. Additional needs include scene settings, kitchen systems, audio-visual systems, virtual networks, and remote (timed) control.
Smart lighting control is based on power line networks, utilizing power line carrier technology and the X10 protocol for information transmission. It enables remote control via phone, centralized control, wireless remote control, computer control, timed control, and network control, offering features like soft start, dimming, brightness memory, and scene memory.
Smart lighting control is software-configurable, allowing for functions like switching, dimming, local control, multi-point control, remote control, and zone control. Users can easily switch scenes with simple touch operations.
Smart lighting control can seamlessly integrate with other control and management systems in theaters and TV studios (e.g., stage lighting systems, multimedia internal communication systems, security systems, BA systems, and fire protection systems), achieving a "multi-network integration, resource sharing" management model.
Traditional household appliances include air conditioners, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, rice cookers, and washing machines, while newer ones include induction cookers, sterilizers, and steamers. Both types are continuously improving in technology.
The advancement of household appliances lies in adopting advanced control technologies, transforming them from mechanical tools into intelligent devices. Smart appliances represent the latest technological advancements.
Smart appliances vary in intelligence levels, even within the same product category, generally classified as single-function smart and multi-function smart.
Single-function smart appliances simulate only one human-like intelligence. For example, a fuzzy logic rice cooker detects rice quantity and adjusts cooking accordingly, mimicking human judgment.
In rice cookers, weight sensors are impractical due to high temperatures. Instead, the cooker uses the logic that more rice requires longer heating, simulating human reasoning to detect quantity and adjust control. Such rice cookers employ fuzzy logic for detection and control.
Multi-function smart appliances simulate multiple human-like intelligences. For instance, LG Electronics launched high-end smart appliances in Korea featuring revolutionary information services. HomeChat
works with NLP and LINE, popular social apps with over 300 million users, enabling interaction with LG appliances via mobile control, monitoring, and experience sharing.HomeChat
exemplifies true intelligence, with LG's product line including a camera-equipped refrigerator, a washer allowing remote start/download via HomeChat, and an NFC/WiFi-enabled microwave.Smart security technology involves information services, image transmission/storage, and data processing. A complete system includes access control, alarms, and surveillance.
Product-wise, it encompasses burglar alarms, video surveillance, access control, patrol systems, GPS vehicle management, and 110 alarm networking. These subsystems can operate independently or integrate with central monitoring.
Burglar alarm systems cover perimeter, area, and equipment security. Front-end devices include sensors; terminals are display/control/communication devices, either standalone or centralized.
Systems must reliably detect intrusions with minimal false alarms. Emergency buttons and 110 interfaces are essential for staff safety.
Video surveillance monitors key areas in real-time, recording and reviewing alarms. Front-end devices are cameras; terminals are display/record/control units, often centralized.
Surveillance systems should integrate with burglar alarms and access control, managed centrally. Independent systems must allow programmable displays, switching, and long-term recording of critical footage, with emergency buttons and 110 interfaces.
Access control systems automate entry/exit management, comprising identification, management, and execution components. Front-end devices include readers and locks; transmission is wired or networked. Terminals are display/control/communication units, either standalone or networked.
Access control integrates with burglar alarms, surveillance, and fire systems for effective security. Identification systems include biometric and coded systems for people and objects.
A complete smart security system also includes patrol, visitor alarms, and other smart security subsystems.
The patrol alarm system uses pre-programmed security patrol software and card readers to monitor the movement status of security personnel (such as punctuality and adherence to the route), record data, and provide timely alerts in case of unexpected situations.
The visitor alarm system enables two-way or video communication between residents and visitors in a building. Residents can remotely control the opening and closing of entrance or unit doors, and report emergencies to the security center promptly.
Other intelligent security systems are established based on specific security management requirements. For example, the GPS vehicle alarm management system and the 110 alarm network transmission system also require comprehensive management of vehicle access control, surveillance, traffic signal indication, and parking fee collection at garage or parking lot entrances.
Additionally, for critical warehouse security systems, effective access control, anti-theft measures, surveillance, and management must be implemented for important storage areas within buildings.