The Smart Electrical Outlet/Socket System, SEOS, Could Birth the "Internet of Electricals"
SEOS system allows for tracking individual devices and can even form a "building firewall" and refuse to power unauthorized gadgets.
Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed what they hope could become the basis for an "Internet of Electricals:" the Smart Electrical Outlet/Socket (SEOS) system.
"he current trend is to put a computing unit in every new appliance, which generates a lot of e-waste and drives up costs. We are avoiding that. A smart nation should have buildings that are inherently smart. Many smart products that you can buy have one-time smartness," says Dr. Krishnanand Kaippilly Radhakrishnan of the project. "But we are looking at creating the foundation for an ‘Internet of Electricals’ with evolvable smartness."
The SEOS system is split into three parts: Physical wall sockets are controllable via server software, linked to a customer-facing application for monitoring and control. Finally, near-field communication (NFC) stickers attach to the plug of each device. It's a process which, the researchers believe, could take as little as a day to upgrade an entire building.
The centralised SEOS server monitors the power draw of each socket; the stickers register each device to the application, data from which are then used to help cut electricity bills by turning particular appliances off when they're not in use. The team also claim the same technology can be used to improve electrical safety, monitoring each device for current draw in excess of its specification which would indicate a short or other dangerous problem.
There's even a security aspect to the project: The team explains that SEOS can be used to create an "building firewall," which prevents unauthorized devices from being connected to mains power.
Dr. Krishnanand and colleagues have founded a startup, ENBED, which aims to commercialise the technology, following a call-to-arms from Singapore's Housing and Development Board (HDB) to implement smart socket technology into all new-build flats. More details are available on the University website.
