Could We Have Bluetooth in Smart Buildings?
Bluetooth wireless technology has grown to become universal. Most people use Bluetooth in their personal lives, but now the technology is also finding its way into smart buildings and devices.
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a type of wireless communication that facilitates data transfer across short distances, usually less than 30 feet. It creates direct connections between two devices or sensors. Similar technologies have been developed since Bluetooth debuted, but none have threatened its dominance in the field.
Building Automation
Building automation is the automated control of a building’s vital systems (heating, ventilation, HVAC, lighting, security, etc.). Bluetooth smart building automation solutions can bring benefits including energy and operation cost reductions and prolonging the life of a building’s essential systems.
Bluetooth 5.0
2016 saw the arrival of BLE 5, and this latest version of Bluetooth has started showing up in consumer gadgets like Apple’s iPhone X and the Samsung’s Galaxy S8.
Bluetooth 5’s range is up to four times wider than BLE 4. Bluetooth 5 even features a special connection intended specifically for long-distance communication, making it perfect for smart building integration.
No Power Cord Needed
One of the biggest benefits of Bluetooth 5 is that it doesn’t need to be hooked up to a power supply or Wi-Fi to work. Many of a smart building’s sensors and devices require electricity to send and receive data, rendering them useless in certain contexts and locations. Instead of using a power supply or Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth 5 sensors can be placed with a battery and use BLE 5 connectivity to communicate with the central hub. This newest iteration of Bluetooth will allow for even more ingenious smart building solutions as the tech becomes more ubiquitous.
