The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association that oversees Bluetooth® technology, and the DiiA, the global DALI alliance of companies from the lighting and sensor industries, announced a collaboration designed to accelerate the adoption of IoT-enabled commercial lighting systems.
The collaboration will enable the deployment of certified DALI-2 devices and intelligent D4i luminaires, with qualified Bluetooth mesh intelligent lighting-control networks. This collaboration brings together two leading and complementary IoT standards for commercial lighting.
IoT-enabled systems for the commercial lighting industry
“Combining Bluetooth mesh with DALI is a natural choice for the commercial lighting industry,” says Paul Drosihn, DiiA General Manager. “The combination enables sensor-rich lighting systems and will deliver powerful new IoT capabilities to building managers. This will include automated light-level and color control, advanced luminaire performance monitoring including energy usage and predictive maintenance, as well as enhanced services such as asset tracking and indoor navigation.”
IoT-enabled commercial lighting systems are comprised of two key components: IoT-enabled luminaires that include sensors and other devices, and an IoT-enabled lighting control system. DALI-2, from the DiiA, provides an ecosystem of certified lighting devices including intelligent D4i luminaires. Bluetooth mesh, from the Bluetooth SIG, is a leading IoT standard for intelligent wireless lighting-control networks. Through this collaboration, leading lighting-industry companies from both organizations are now bringing these two standards together by specifying a standard Bluetooth mesh interface for certified DALI-2 and D4i devices, enabling connectivity with qualified Bluetooth mesh lighting-control networks.
“Commercial building owners around the world are being asked to improve energy efficiency while also enhancing the occupant experience,” said Mark Powell, CEO of the Bluetooth SIG. “The IoT-enabled intelligent lighting systems this collaboration enables promise to deliver the exact solution these building owners need.”
“We are excited to support this collaboration between the Bluetooth SIG and DiiA,” said Arnulf Rupp, Head of Standardization at OSRAM. “Establishing a standard Bluetooth mesh interface for D4i intelligent luminaries will open up industry opportunity and enable the deployment of even more advanced, interoperable IoT-enabled commercial lighting systems, while ensuring an equivalent light control behavior between both standards.”
To help streamline the delivery of products to market, the Bluetooth SIG and DiiA are also working together to make it easier for vendors to complete both the Bluetooth product qualification and DALI-2 product certification processes necessary to ensure interoperability. In turn, this will ensure that Bluetooth mesh lighting control, combined with certified DALI-2 and D4i devices remains the natural choice for the professional lighting industry.
