Donald GuerreroThe history of the lighting industry is marked by continuous innovation, from the invention of the incandescent lightbulb to the development of energy-efficient LEDs.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) holds the promise of propelling the next evolution of lighting functionality and controllability. However, to harness the potential of AI in lighting, it’s crucial to understand its fundamentals and how it can enhance lighting technology and the built environment.
Understanding AI Fundamentals
AI, or artificial intelligence, involves simulating human intelligence in machines. This includes processes like learning, reasoning, and self-correction, allowing computers and devices to replicate human cognitive abilities.
AI systems adapt and improve their performance over time, becoming more effective at solving problems and executing tasks.
However, it’s important to note that AI, as it exists today, is not the sentient, self-aware AI often depicted in fiction but rather a sophisticated tool for data analysis and decision-making.
AI relies on three key components: storage, training data, and processing power. Adequate storage is necessary to manage the vast amounts of data AI systems process. Training data forms the basis for AI algorithms, allowing systems to learn patterns and draw inferences. High processing power is essential for the complex computations required for data analysis.
Intersection of Digital Control and AI
Digital lighting control systems have evolved from analog systems to sophisticated digital protocols like DALI-2 D4i, which enable bidirectional data exchange.
These standardized digital control protocols provide a supportive framework for integrating AI into lighting control systems. DALI-2 D4i allows lighting systems to access and exchange data efficiently, creating a foundation for AI algorithms.
AI systems can analyze real-time data from lighting networks, adjusting settings based on factors like occupancy, ambient light, and energy consumption. This level of real-time optimization surpasses the capabilities of standard lighting control systems, which have limited data processing capacity.
Enhancing Value with AI
The concept of return on value (ROV) expands upon traditional return on investment (ROI) considerations for lighting control systems.
ROV encompasses not only direct monetary returns but also strategic, operational, and qualitative benefits. AI-enabled lighting control systems offer predictive maintenance, optimized control strategies, and efficient network management, contributing to value maximization.
Predictive maintenance reduces downtime and maintenance costs, enhancing component lifespan and saving on labor. AI-optimized control strategies improve energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with sustainability goals.
These intangible benefits may be challenging to quantify financially but significantly enhance the overall value proposition.
AI-enabled lighting control systems are particularly suitable for large-scale applications with substantial data generation. In smaller-scale systems, the benefits of AI may be less pronounced, but emerging technologies have the potential to bring advanced control to smaller networks.
Conclusion
AI is poised to transform lighting control, offering unprecedented capabilities for optimization and data-driven decision-making. The lighting industry must work to translate AI concepts into practical control technologies, enriching the industry and positively impacting the planet and its inhabitants.
