Philips Hue and various other smart bulbs utilizing the Zigbee standard might soon possess the capability to function as motion detectors without needing any additional hardware. This enhancement means they could automatically turn on when someone enters a room without the assistance of a separate motion sensor.
Moreover, this exciting new feature is expected to be rolled out to existing Hue bulbs via an update to the Hue Bridge…
Like many other users, I currently rely on motion sensors to automatically illuminate certain Philips Hue bulbs and light strips, or to trigger specific scenes. For instance, my kitchen and bathroom lights activate automatically when someone enters the room, and they switch off again if no motion is tracked for two minutes.
However, a new method of sensing motion may eliminate the need for extra hardware. The bulbs are expected to be equipped with the necessary intelligence to detect motion independently.
The key to this technology lies in its ability to identify interference in radio signals caused by someone’s presence in a room. This interference can then be utilized as a trigger to operate the bulbs, similar to existing motion sensors.
One iteration of this technology, known as Sensify, was crafted by the wireless networking firm Ivani. Another was developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the organization behind Zigbee, referred to as Ambient Sensing.
Since it operates based on radio signal interference between devices, it is essential to have multiple Zigbee devices in a space for it to function properly.
In the case of Sensify on Zigbee, these detection zones consist of the area among a group of 3-4 devices. These zones effectively create virtual sensors within the network, which can deliver occupancy data useful for a variety of applications.
For example, several Zigbee devices clustered in a room can provide detailed occupancy data at the room level.
Ivani states that partner companies can also employ this motion detection technology for smart security products.
Convenience triggers are ideal for quick response implementations such as turning on lights upon entering a room. These typically respond in under 500ms, with 90% of triggers occurring within 1 second of entering a detection zone.
Security triggers are tailored for high-confidence applications such as home security, typically having an average response time of several seconds, while boasting an exceedingly low false positive rate of less than one false positive every six months. Both types of outputs can operate concurrently on the same foundational data, offering customers occupancy data suitable for various use cases (e.g., turning on lights while ensuring property security) simultaneously from a single device.
All Zigbee devices, including Philips Hue lights, can be updated to integrate this technology.
While Ivani has not disclosed the identities of its partners, it has informed The Verge that there are millions of devices poised for activation.
The most advantageous aspect is that it can function on devices already present in most households. “There are tens of millions of devices with the core firmware already available; we’re simply finalizing the details to fully activate the experience,” Ivani co-founder Justin McKinney mentioned to The Verge.
An evident application for this technology is within a Zigbee-based smart lighting system, such as Philips Hue. Speculation has circulated around Hue’s development of Zigbee sensing technology since its sister company Wiz introduced a similar method called SpaceSense in 2022, which leverages WNS over Wi-Fi. Well-informed sources at hueblog.com report that Zigbee wireless network sensing is the technology Hue is most likely to adopt.
According to HueBlog—which first reported on this over a year ago—Philips may opt for Zigbee Ambient Sensing.
Now it appears there’s progress in this area, as Zigbee Ambient Sensing is the fundamental technology that the new function is expected to rely on.
From the available information, it seems that implementing the Philips Hue function will require at least three light sources arranged at specific distances and in a certain configuration within the space. A continuous power supply for these light sources is, of course, necessary. Additionally, users should be able to adjust the motion detection sensitivity.
While no specific timelines have been announced, it sounds like we might not have to wait too long for this innovation.
Image: CSA
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