Now, understand what your home appliances want from you!
By ANITuesday, February 16, 2010
WASHINGTON - A US company has developed a handy new wireless controller, which would enable the various smart meters and appliances in modern homes to speak the same language, helping the house owner understand their different requirements.
According to a report in Discovery News, the device, known as the Smart Grid Home Controller, has been developed by BuLogics, a Philadelphia-based company started by two Drexel University electrical engineering grads.
The controller is particularly cool because it pulls a whole bunch of tech together seamlessly.
The device uses Z-Wave communication technology and works with any wireless standard, including the two-way wireless standard ZigBee, created by Philips Semiconductors and popular with utilities.
For example, during the summer time, everyone has the AC to high cooling power.
Now, the smart meter gets a signal saying something to the effect of “hey, please go easy on the juice to help avert a blackout.”
BuLogics’ controller gets the meter’s message, automatically starts shutting off non-critical appliances according to the home owner’s preset preferences, and sends his phone a message letting him know what’s going on.
Currently, the controller is cornering the vote in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition, part of the Greener Gadgets Conference happening this month in New York. (ANI)
