Cree Expands SmartCast Intelligence Platform; Collaborates with Synapse Wireless
Durham, North Carolina-based LED lighting firm Cree, Inc. reports that it is expanding its SmartCast Intelligence Platform™ to include connected wireless capabilities for smart building solutions. Such smart building solutions can provide building automation and control network (BACnet) connectivity, advanced lighting controls, and building analytics.
In addition, Cree announced a new partnership with Synapse Wireless, Inc. (Synapse) to provide lighting controls created specifically for outdoor area and high-bay applications. Combined, Cree indicated that these platform enhancements deliver connected solutions for applications such as complete campus and industrial settings. Additionally, Cree says that the new SmartCast Intelligence platform improvements make it easier to upgrade existing buildings to intelligent lighting systems.
SmartCast Wireless Connected Platform™
Now Cree has brought data analytics and third-party integration capabilities of its SmartCast® PoE system to its new or upgraded SmartCast® Wireless luminaires with SmartCast® Wireless Gateway and SmartCast Link™ devices. The company says that data analytics and third-party integration capabilities enable lighting networks to benefit from the full extent of IoT building solutions. For example, data analytics can provide actionable insights about energy usage, space optimization, and employee productivity.
Additionally, the network can directly connect with other systems in the building via SmartCast® BACnet connectivity or API and with third-party applications from Cree’s development partner ecosystem.
The expanded SmartCast Wireless Connected Platform™ includes the following:
The SmartCast® Wireless Gateway boosts the savings potential in a building by combining SmartCast® Wireless lighting networks, devices and data with other building management systems such as cooling and heating systems via the SmartCast Link™ device.
SmartCast Link™ connects the lighting network and third-party applications while separating and protecting critical systems and data. The SmartCast Link device hosts the SmartCast Advisor™ that helps building owners save energy and improve space utilization, and it also hosts the SmartCast® API, which lets third-party applications communicate with and control the lighting network.
SmartCast® BACnet Connectivity connects the Cree SmartCast® family of devices, including both PoE and Wireless, into a BACnet system. The BACnet system connects the SmartCast® connected lighting network to other building systems.
SimplySNAP Enabled Control
Through Cree’s partnership with Synapse®, new SimplySNAP enabled Cree® LED luminaires are integrated with a wireless control system that delievers what Cree describes as a reliable and secure, 2.4 GHz mesh network. Cree says that the SimplySNAP enabled wireless control solution using a mesh network works with deployment models ranging from small, off-line locations all the way to large installations requiring thousands of fixtures.
According to Cree, the end-to-end system is fully tested for optimal integration and it boasts simple and easy installation. The system also enables stand-alone functionality from initial deployment. In addition to daylight harvesting and custom alerts, the SimplySnap wireless control solution features scene and zone controls, event scheduling and triggers, as well as occupancy and vacancy monitoring.
“At Cree, we are focused on leveraging our LED and systems technology to go beyond illumination and address our customers’ needs,” said Craig Atwater, Cree senior vice president and general manager of lighting. “The newly enhanced wireless capabilities and BACnet connectivity of Cree’s SmartCast Intelligence Platform™ as well as our new SimplySNAP™ enabled control options open the door to unlimited applications for building owners and operators to increase the overall value and capabilities of their buildings and campuses, no matter the setting.”
The SmartCast Wireless Connected Platform™ and select SimplySNAP-enabled Cree luminaires will be available this summer. Cree will showcase these technologies offer an opportunity to interact with representatives from several SmartCast® Technology development partners, at the Cree booth #1412 during LIGHTFAIR International 2018 in Chicago from May 8-10.
