Jean-Michel Orsat, Somfy

The European home automation market includes applications such as shutters, terrace awnings, blinds and curtains, electrical door locks, electrical windows, garage door and gate openers, heating control, lighting control, etc. For decades these have mainly been stand-alone applications, where the users did not need more than just to be able to control them. Simple wireless command protocols were used.

Today, home automation is a reality with already several million products sold annually, and the need for more comfort, more security and particularly energy saving require the use of advanced wireless system control protocols. These high-level home automation protocols enable dynamic functionalities that coordinate the control of the actuators through advanced automatic functions and sensors.

The first part of this paper describes how the market and application requirements imposed specific technological orientations. The second part quotes some market figures that demonstrate how home automation is actually real, how home automation represents a considerable sector within the SRD industry, and why it requires special attention regarding evolving regulations.

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