Do you have Philips Hue lights? A free software update could turn them into motion sensors.
A new and attractive feature for Zigbee devices.
An interesting update has been announced for the Zigbee protocol that will benefit devices, including Philips Hue, allowing them to function as occupancy sensors. This change will enable lights to detect if there are people at home without the need for additional hardware, thanks to a free firmware update.
By connecting smart lights, switches, and other devices to a Philips Hue bridge, a mesh network is established using the Zigbee protocol, facilitating communication between devices and allowing for over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates to fix bugs and add new features.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), responsible for Zigbee, introduced a new feature called "Ambient Sensing," which will enable Zigbee devices, like Hue lights, to detect the presence of people in the home. This feature will be available for both new and older devices, distributed via an OTA update.
In a short video, the CSA explained that Ambient Sensing will offer enhanced experiences, such as autonomous lighting control and home security, while maintaining privacy by operating locally without requiring occupancy sensors in every room. However, there is still no defined timeline for the implementation of this feature. Signify, the company behind Philips Hue, has also not indicated whether it will be available for Hue bulbs and lamps.
According to information from sources close to the matter, it has been revealed that Ambient Sensing will require at least three light sources in a room, which must be positioned at a certain distance and in an appropriate arrangement. It is crucial that there is a constant power supply for these light sources and that the sensitivity of motion detection can be adjusted.
In addition to these updates, Signify has exciting plans for next year, including the integration of an AI assistant that will allow for the creation of customized lighting scenes through voice commands. However, Ambient Sensing is presented as a more practical and potentially useful feature.
