At the Cisco Live! 2016 Berlin event (15-19 February), LED chip, lamp and lighting fixture maker Cree Inc of Durham, NC, USA has introduced SmartCast Power over Ethernet (PoE), a simple, scalable and open platform that enables the Internet of Things (IoT) for buildings through better light.
SmartCast PoE is part of the Cisco Digital Ceiling framework, which connects disparate systems into a single IP network to create smart, more secure, seamlessly connected building systems. Said to be the first LED lighting platform that makes the Cisco Digital Ceiling framework ready for mass deployment and adoption, SmartCast PoE embeds intelligence to make buildings more efficient and people more productive, while delivering better light for less energy than ordinary LED lighting systems. Cree is part of the Digital Ceiling partner community, a network of partners working to enhance the traditional workforce through the connection of intelligent things to create new user experiences, lower total costs and enable business analytics.
"The new connected lighting technologies we're pioneering with Cisco leverage Cree's SmartCast Technology and the communications power of the internet to deliver better light and up to 70% more savings than standard LED lighting," says Norbert Hiller, Cree's executive VP of lighting. "With Cisco, Cree is taking Intelligent Light far beyond what's possible with traditional lighting solutions."
Cree applied its proven intelligent SmartCast Technology to a PoE infrastructure in order to solve the inherent commissioning complexities of deploying network-powered smart lighting within buildings. SmartCast PoE works out of the box, just like the original SmartCast Technology, and enables an entire building to be commissioned at one time with a single stroke. Cree's series of SmartCast lights, light switches and dimmers operates with Cisco's standards-based PoE-powered network architecture. This platform provides power and networking for the lights with a standard Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for separate data and high-voltage power connections.
"Cree's expertise is important as we make this shift in the industry to help customers in the enterprise begin to harness the benefits of network-powered smart lighting solutions," comments Tony Shakib, vice president, IoT verticals business unit, Cisco.
Cree SmartCast Technology with PoE can deliver energy savings up to 70% greater than LED lighting alone, it is reckoned, while making possible new services and experiences.
Initial installations are underway, and Cree SmartCast Technology with PoE will be commercially available in second-quarter 2016.
