Bluetooth Mesh is often associated with the smart home or larger building automation systems. However, Bluetooth Mesh is also an interesting application in outdoor areas through the swarm networking of outdoor lights.
Swarm networking of outdoor lights
Nowadays, luminaires in outdoor areas usually have to be wired through a complex changeover circuit. If sensors are integrated, they are often analog and only switch a single luminaire. Other wireless technologies such as ZigBee or Wi-Fi are also unsuitable for outdoor use because they require a central hub or router, which are usually located in the house.
Bluetooth Mesh offers a decisive added value precisely here: All outdoor luminaires can be set up, automated and networked without wiring and without a central interface. No Wi-Fi router and no Internet are required for this. With Bluetooth 5, ranges of up to 200-300 meters are also possible outdoors.
Configuration of a single luminaire
If you install only one luminaire in the garden, it can already be set up using a smartphone app via Bluetooth. For example, it can be specified that the luminaire automatically switches on at 100% brightness at sunset, but dims down to 25% brightness from 9.30 pm. If a presence sensor is integrated in the luminaire, it can be defined in a rule that the brightness increases to 75% for 30 seconds in the event of presence.
All these rules can be programmed completely autonomously within seconds in the MESHLE app, for example.
Networking multiple luminaires and sensors
If you now add further lights or sensors to the first light in the garden, they form a secure Bluetooth mesh network among themselves. Thanks to the improved range of Bluetooth 5, the distance between two lights can be up to 300 meters. The settings defined for the first light can be automatically transferred to all other lights.
Swarm networking
To enable advanced intelligence, the rule engine can be used to create swarm networks within the MESHLE app. If, for example, all luminaires are grouped along the garden path, all other luminaires can be controlled when the presence of the first luminaire is detected.
For example, the first luminaire dims up from 25% to 100% when presence is detected. Three luminaires in the immediate vicinity dim up simultaneously from 25% to 75%. All other luminaires further away dim from 25% to 50%.
Smart functionality
Together, the outdoor lights can be set up, using only a smartphone, in such a way that all outdoor lights switch on automatically at sunset. At the same time, it can be defined at which time the lights have which dimming state. If sensors are integrated into the network, a swarm network can be set up thanks to the MESHLE Rule Engine so that lights further away also dim up. Within seconds, the MESHLE app can be used to specify that all luminaires switch off at 11 p.m. or at sunrise.
Networking outdoor luminaires with MESHLE
We, MESHLE GmbH, have specialized in Bluetooth Mesh and the swarm technology just mentioned. We offer manufacturers a pre-developed solution with which products can be digitized in record time. You can find more information about our technology and solution here.
