I recently had the opportunity to interview Chuck Piccirillo, Head of Product – Lighting Networks & Services, OSRAM Sylvania – Digital Systems. The topic: lighting and the Internet of Things. The interview informed an article I wrote for the October issue of tED Magazine.

DiLouie: How would you define the Internet of Things (IoT)?

Piccirillo: To understand the Internet of Things, first consider what the internet itself is: A worldwide system of over 10 billion devices and computer networks the purpose of which, until recently, has been about providing access to information upon request. The content posted to the world wide web is created by humans, for humans.

With IoT, content is generated by a device or a machine — i.e., a “thing.” In IoT, data transfer occurs primarily between “things” with embedded sensors, and data is collected into a central system that collects and organizes the information. Content is typically pushed out as a notification that something of interest has happened, and then triggers an action on the part of another thing or group of things. According to Gartner, there are currently more connected things in the world than there are people.

In the business setting, the Internet of Things allows devices to communicate and collect data without humans being involved, allowing us to be more efficient and save time and money.

DiLouie: In your view, where does the Internet of Things (IoT) stand right now in terms of development, availability, standards, and adoption?

Piccirillo: We are still in the very early stages of what the IoT will make possible. So far, just a handful of applications are readily available, and many of them live in the consumer realm. For example, wearable devices such as smartwatches that track our activity level have taken off in recent years and there are millions of smartphone applications — and the number is growing every day.

However, we still have a long way to go in terms of developing a fully connected ecosystem of smart devices, both on the consumer side and in business tech. While many applications such as smart thermostats, doorbells and security systems are available from a variety of vendors, these “things” are not all interoperable because they do not all use the same network protocols. As the IoT grows from its infancy and into adolescence, standardization will play a key role in helping to streamline adoption among consumers and businesses alike.

The IoT has the potential to revolutionize building and facility management with more insight into occupancy and building use, air quality and environment, maintenance and energy savings, and much, much more. However, adoption has been relatively slow among building owners and facility managers. Much of this is due to the complexity of both setting up and running IoT platforms, and because of a lack of standardization when it comes to network protocols and connectivity. Additionally, calculating value is difficult for managers just starting to explore the IoT, as many systems remain unproven and therefore represent a business risk.

The tide is turning, however, and the Internet of Things is here to stay — it has been coined “the next industrial revolution,” and countless businesses are monitoring its progress looking to stay ahead of the curve.

DiLouie: How would you characterize IoT solutions? Is there a silver, gold, platinum level for implementation of capabilities?

Piccirillo: An IoT solution is something that consists of various technologies connected together to deliver entirely new value. The value that the solution delivers will range in impact and complexity based on the implementation and the needs of the client. Because there are so many different products, industries, and technologies involved in the IoT, no single supplier will likely have all the capabilities required for a complete solution. Therefore, it is imperative for vendors to have a range of partners at their disposal to pull together the right mix of capabilities that align with the situation. The Internet of Things cannot be broken down and measured based on a single vendor’s products – it is the complex partner ecosystem made up of countless products and solutions that enable IoT as a whole.

DiLouie: Who do you see as early adopters of the IoT? What are ideal applications? In a typical commercial building, where should the owner start?

Piccirillo: On the enterprise side of things, building owners and facility managers tend to be the early adopters of IoT because of the benefits that it can provide. One area many are starting with is smart lighting management systems, which provide greater visibility into the equipment and maintenance ecosystem, more efficient repair processes, and continuous tracking of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.

Selecting an infrastructure that will support the IoT can be an overwhelming task. There are still many unknowns about what the exact requirements will be and no one wants to make an investment mistake. However, there a few key things facility managers can look for when choosing an intelligent lighting system infrastructure as a platform for IoT, which can help ensure the system is future proof.

Facility managers should choose an infrastructure that not only supports change, but supports change quickly. Most office space is reconfigured regularly to accommodate employee movement and space adjustments, meaning that lighting and other smart building applications likely will need to be updated. Managers should select an infrastructure that offers a high level of flexibility, allowing luminaires and control zones to be adjusted quickly with a few mouse clicks, without re-wiring or moving fixtures.

Many companies offer basic systems that allow facility managers to get started with the IoT, and then move upwards in complexity to a full-fledged system as capabilities allow. This can be a great way to get started with IoT in a way that is less risky and lower cost.

DiLouie: Where do you see IoT adoption through connected lighting in the next 3 years?

Piccirillo: LED light fixtures are the perfect conduit for IoT technology, as their ubiquity provides ample opportunity for granular data collection while simultaneously delivering electric power to sensors. The miniaturization of microprocessor technologies, the digital nature of LEDs, and the availability of lighting in every space makes the infrastructure of an intelligent lighting system the perfect platform for enabling smart building-related IoT applications. However, there is only a small percentage of LED fixtures installed today that have embedded intelligent sensors.

Within the next three years, we expect more and more LEDs will be installed with IoT capabilities, as facility managers and executives go through lighting retrofits and redesigns. However, as the lifetime of an LED fixture is about 10 to 15 years, we also expect to see more options for turning existing light fixtures into smart devices. Such applications are starting to emerge and can turn industry-standard luminaires into smart devices that can, for example, enable occupancy detection, daylight harvesting and individual or group control of luminaires.

DiLouie: When a luminaire is “IoT-enabled,” what does that mean?

Piccirillo: When a luminaire is IoT-enabled, it can connect to the Internet of Things and communicate bi-directionally with other devices in the network, as well as with people. IoT-enabled luminaires are devices that have embedded electronics that allow them to integrate with data networks in a building or city.

In the 2016 report, Market Guide for Smart Lighting, leading industry analyst Gartner found that smart lighting can serve as an enabling infrastructure for Internet of Things capabilities that go far beyond lighting and energy savings. When creating a digital platform for smart cities and smart buildings, connected LED lighting is key.

DiLouie: Can one specify a connected lighting system and thereby future-proof the building for later IoT adoption? How would that work?

Piccirillo: Future-proofing around IoT is not a one-time occurrence. It is also not about avoiding future changes, but managing the inevitable changes when they come. Selecting the right lighting system should involve making some choices and managing the risk of the choice. Facility managers should ask themselves the following questions when selecting an IoT platform:

1. Does the lighting system have the flexibility to connect to various technologies? When a system is able to connect to multiple technologies, it has a higher probability of adapting to technological change.

2. Is the system inherently scalable? Choose a software-based, scalable system that can grow in size and scope. Software is easy and cost-effective to upgrade, and you will not need to rip out and replace expensive hardware as your needs evolve over time.

3. Does the system architecture have a hybrid architecture meaning it can connect to wired and wireless devices? If so, then it has the flexibility to address the changing needs of the owner and adapt to future solutions. Alternatively, consider a wireless system. Wireless technology has improved significantly over the past five years and will continue to improve moving forward. Virtually every IoT solution will have some portion that is wireless, so be prepared. The initial technical challenges of deploying wireless technology have been overcome and now wireless is the connectivity of choice because it costs less, is more flexible than hard-wired systems, and can be deployed quickly.

4. Is the system non-proprietary? To prevent vendor lock-in, select a standards-based, non-proprietary system. IoT solutions will be based on the technologies that result from partnerships and alliances, with each organization contributing their area of expertise for a complete solution. You don’t want your options to be limited when considering specific IoT solutions, so be sure to select a system with a broad ecosystem.

DiLouie: How does one integrate a connected lighting system into an IoT solution?

Piccirillo: Connected lighting can play a pivotal role in providing an IoT solution, and in fact, connected lighting should be the baseline of any IoT solution. Think of connected lighting systems as the central nervous system of a smart building, enabling future IoT solutions. A true connected lighting system will contain sensors that collect data, software that manages the data, and a network connection to send the data. The system can then use this data to identify trends and patterns that can be used to make data-driven decisions that realize greater efficiencies.

Since lighting is everywhere, lighting that is connected can provide data on what is happening in a space at any given time. IoT brings smart lighting to the next level – you can think of it as smart lighting on steroids. While connected lighting is traditionally known for delivering energy savings and automating lights, the addition of sensors and a connection to the internet can tell a broader story about a space, its occupants and the building itself; enabling a stronger solution for clients.
Q9. What limitations exist for IoT implementation with connected lighting?

Lack of adoption is currently the main limitation of the IoT. While the technologies exist, we’re not yet taking advantage of them to their full ability – there are countless ways we can use IoT to transform how we interact with the physical world, and the greater number of devices that are connected to IoT, the more possibilities arise.

There are two main factors that are slowing adoption – lack of understanding of IoT and how to implement it; and concerns surrounding security issues. The limited understanding of IoT, as is common with any new technology, will expand over time.

However, security issues related to IoT, are more complicated. In October 2017, several popular websites including Twitter, Netflix, and Airbnb were brought to a halt with two distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on the company that manages their servers. While the threat of this kind of attack has always been present, the way it took place was worrisome, as several common IoT devices were used to overwhelm these servers. As we move forward designing and implementing IoT, security will remain one of the key areas of focus for organizations. Organizations are working together to ensure that privacy concerns and security issues are addressed, which will be key to the success of the IoT.

DiLouie: How should distributors sell the owner? How can distributors sell reluctant IT departments and make them comfortable?

Piccirillo: Entering into the world of the IoT can be daunting for lighting professionals who have no background in IT, and approaching lighting from a systems perspective can seem as challenging as learning a new language. It’s best to start with a simple understanding of what a connected lighting system is: A set of components that work together to deliver a specific set of lighting capabilities, as well as capabilities beyond illumination.

Distributors will play a key role in educating building owners about IoT. A distributor should always dig deep to understand what problems a building owner or facility manager is facing and work together with them to create an IoT solution that leverages the solutions and capabilities of their full partner ecosystem.

IT departments should work to develop a basic knowledge of how IoT works and how it connects to the internal network, as well as the vision behind what the facility manager is hoping to achieve. This will help streamline implementation and help businesses address potential requirements in an efficient way. When selecting a networked solution, IT departments should choose a system that can provide a parallel network separated from the existing IT infrastructure, and with its own firewall. Finally, from a practical standpoint, IT departments should be ready to share IT-related documentation with facility managers, and ensure that they have access to information about the IoT solution’s approach to data protection, network encryption methods, and the supplier’s privacy policy.

Overall, it’s imperative that distributors partner with technology vendors who have the know-how and ability to support them going forward in all aspects of IoT.

DiLouie: If you could tell the U.S. electrical industry just one thing about the IoT and connected lighting, what would it be?

Piccirillo: The IoT is coming, and it’s coming fast. Building managers that are slow to adopt this technology or don’t recognize its benefits will be left behind. Even if you’re not currently ready to begin implementing an IoT solution, it is advantageous to learn about this technology and its implications for the market before the industry reaches a tipping point of adoption – which will likely occur within the next few years.

Craig DiLouie

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