How can a sensor manufacturer pave the way for Smart Buildings and Smart devices?
Andivi is not only a sensor manufacturer! Our mission goes miles beyond only sensory technology. At Andivi we believe we are on a mission to make the World smarter, faster, and more intuitive. And not only that, we know that sensors can make buildings and devices around us smarter and more energy efficient. Smart decisions are only possible with precise sensory input.
A future-oriented sensors manufacturer must see not only the benefit of data capturing with one sensor, but also the benefits of a swarms of data captured by millions of sensors and analysed with deep-learning algorithms.
For example, the sensors of a building are like the neurons of a neural network in a human body. Sensors sense various changes in a building – from temperature, humidity, pressure, air quality, light and movement. They measure in real time, all-the time. They gather input 24/7. They create vast logs of data which allows for deep analysis and comparison. This furthermore leads to insights and enables informed decision making. Improvements that would not be possible without precise data crunched into valuable information.
In the last 10 years, we have come from sensors capturing data for basic analytics to micro regulations based on precise and extremely frequent sensor data collection. These micro regulations of e.g. of temperature, humidity, air quality now allow for thousands of micro-savings by slightly adjusting controlling devices.
Examples of energy savings scenarios enabled by sensors in Smart Buildings
40% of Global Energy demand is through buildings. The logic is simple; if we can impact buildings and reduce their energy we can have a global impact on energy reduction. Technology has enabled us to do that and sensors are the entry point to smart buildings.
Let us consider some simple – but not easy – scenarios of energy reduction in a large non-residential building – a building that has a surface of above 1000 m2.
In a high-rise office building, a conference room may need a significantly lower amount of heating energy if there are 20 people present at a given time. By capturing enough data within this conference room, we may realize that the temperature is rising based on heat emitted from these very room occupants. This may lower the heating needs in the winter and adjust cooling requirements in the summer.
While at the same time, an empty conference room may need less cooling in the summer if not occupied, and more while occupied.
This may yet again change based on the direction of the building. The eastern side of the building, where sunrises may need slightly less heating, while the western side of the building may need slightly more heating at the same time!
Fresh air demands in a building are yet again different based on current occupancy, time of day and season and sensors can constantly adjust and re-adjust Smart Air Handling Units.
The above-described scenarios are interesting because sensors now pave the way for smart control that not only decreases energy use and saves money, but also increases the quality of our living and working environment.
Human interventions to e.g. constantly micro-adjust the temperature by 0.5°C, 1°C, 1.5°C or even 2°C in every room (!) several times a day (!) in a high-rise office building are impossible to imagine. They are also not economical and way to expensive. On the upside, a controller can do all these readjustments a thousand times a day, every day at a fraction of the cost.
Furthermore, this smart control entirely happens in the background, controllers like Andivi U-DDC are a further step from being a regular sensor manufacturer for Andivi.
Future-oriented sensor manufacturer
In order for the above scenarios to be possible, a sensor manufacturer needs to execute flawlessly on:
- Sensor reliability,
- Product durability,
- measuring precision,
- Cost-efficient manufacturing which leads to inexpensive yet high-quality products,
- Constant innovation (e.g. from and passive, active sensors to Modbus, BACnet, KNX, Z-wave sensors)
Every sensor manufacturer that did not radically adapt his production process, their product reliability and production cost has become irrelevant in the past 10 years. At Andivi we go even further, we understand our products as not only simple data capturers, but enablers of smart decisions based on big data processing, machine learning and AI.
That is why Andivi also developed DDC controllers with smart data logging, support for SQL Databases and supporting several different communications protocols – like Modbus, BACnet and KNX in one multi-functional automation station that can attach as many I/O units as needed.
Andivi a Sensor manufacturer that envisions your future needs
That is why at Andivi we are open to manufacturing custom sensors for our business clients that have their own expectations and ideas in terms of custom development. We are here for you and you can benefit from our knowledge and expertise.
Send us your sensor requirements and we will consult you with our best insights, latest technology know-how and make a cost-efficient smart sensor for your custom application.
Please do not hesitate to contact us.
