Distech Controls reckons its ECLYPSE APEX controller, combined with ECLYPSE Building Intelligence software, will create sustainable, human-centric, and autonomous buildings – but as always, the proof will be in the pudding.
Distech Controls, a subsidiary of Acuity Brands Lighting, has launched its ECLYPSE APEX controller, pairing it with the new ECLYPSE Building Intelligence software.
According to a press release dated March 23, 2023, this platform aims to help stakeholders create 'sustainable, human-centric and autonomous buildings ready for an ever-changing world'.
The ECLYPSE APEX apparently 'rewrote the rule book for BMS controllers,' offering enhanced performance and dedicated spaces for IoT and AI developers.
Buzzword Bingo
The controller boasts embedded technologies such as RESTful API, Docker, and AI accelerator support. The firm is pitching this as a solution to connectivity challenges between IT, OT/IoT systems, and digital services.
One wonders if this will truly bridge the gap, or simply add another layer to an already crowded landscape.
The ECLYPSE APEX’s openness to protocols such as LoRa is touted as a major selling point. This apparently allows facilities managers to 'cost-effectively deploy any type of LoRa wireless sensor'.
Wireless sensors are increasingly common in facility management, offering a degree of flexibility over their wired counterparts.
Sensor Sensibility
The goal is total visibility of a site's status, from energy consumption to occupancy rates, enabling optimal services at minimal cost.
Secure boot and physical security measures are also included, along with support for various communication protocols like BACnet MS/TP, BACnet/SC, BACnet/IP, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, M-Bus, and MQTT. BACnet, in particular, is a key protocol in building automation, providing a standardised way for different building systems to communicate.
Ensuring compatibility with various protocols is crucial for any new BMS controller hoping to gain traction in the market.
ECLYPSE Building Intelligence, described as a microservices-based software platform, is intended to streamline building design, deployment, operation, and maintenance.
Intelligence Gathering
The vision, we are told, is to make buildings more sustainable, autonomous, and human-centric. System integrators and digital partners can leverage its openness and interoperability to deliver advanced digital services, ensuring occupant satisfaction and minimal operational costs.
The release states that ECLYPSE Building Intelligence will be deployed on all ECLYPSE hardware over the course of 2023, with more capabilities being introduced.
While the promise of enhanced sustainability and autonomy is appealing, one must question the practicalities of integrating yet another software platform into existing building infrastructure.
Legacy Lag
Retrofitting older buildings with smart technology, like the ECLYPSE system, is a significant part of the building automation market.
The challenge is often integrating new systems with legacy equipment, which can be a costly and complex undertaking.
Distech Controls claims this is a 'game changer for system integrators,' allowing them to deliver advanced digital services through 'unparalleled openness and interoperability'.
However, those of us who've toiled in the trenches of BMS integration know that 'unparalleled openness' often translates to 'requires extensive customisation and debugging'.
Time will tell if this box is a genuine step forward or just another headache for the lads in the plant room.
