Control of lighting via WIFI? Yes, it is possible!

A number of different hardware and software solutions, operating on a specific infrastructure, are now used to control lighting and multimedia devices. And it’s DMX, and it’s sACN, RDM or ArtNet. Each of them serves a specific purpose. The Polish company Modus, on the other hand, offers a curiosity in the form of a system of individual lamps, Modus Art Control System, whose work is controlled via an ordinary WiFi network, using the ArtNet protocol, with no need to install any additional infrastructural network devices.

Wireless lighting interface

This is because these lamps independently register and log on to the LAN, and are managed through individual web pages. You can also use consoles or controllers from Chamsys, Madrix, etc. to control them. These lamps can be used, for example, to illuminate elements of scenery or room decor.

Indeed, at the heart of the solution is a module developed by the indigenous Modus company, which includes a USB-C connector, a power cell, a chip with control software and – of course – a wireless network interface.

This module is the size of a small postage stamp, if you know what that stamp is. Small, but happy. For this means that as long as the modules can be built inside the housing, potentially such a lamp can have any form, such as an ordinary light bulb. And such ideas have already appeared in the minds of Modus designers, and even embodied. A model of the RGBW bulb, adapted to the standard E27 thread, is ready, and a version with an E14 thread is currently being developed.

Sensors

The second group of devices that Modus manufactures and presented at PL+S 2023 are sensors. These are specialized sensors for use in multimedia installations, for example. An example would be a laser sensor.

Nominally, its operating range is 4 meters, however, it can be configured to respond only in a specific area, a “window”. The triggering signal from the sensor is routed to ArtNet, which means that it can be used to activate specific devices, such as a mediaserver. The manufacturer is working on adapting the device – though not just this one – to work with other protocols, including UDP.

As we can see, Modus offers inconspicuous, often operating in the shadows, but very interesting solutions, however we have referred here only to a slice of the whole offer. Anyway, let’s have no doubt – a Polish can do it!

This article was written by infomusic.pl