Building Technology
From Drive to Connected Actuator
A manufacturer of roller shutter and sun protection systems gets a Wi-Fi-enabled actuator – without any in-house electronics development.
Project / Client
The client manufactures roller shutter and sun protection systems and sells them traditionally through specialist dealers.
Between July 2019 and December 2020, IOX developed the product with the client in several stages: an initial project, a content deepening, a dedicated maturation phase for the circuit board, a second, larger development phase and, finally, a documented handover.
The Situation
The client brought mechanics, sales and an established brand for roller shutter and sun protection systems. What it lacked was in-house electronics development for a Wi-Fi-enabled control unit.
The Key Question
How does a mechanical roller shutter drive become a Wi-Fi-enabled actuator without the client first having to build up its own electronics development?
A mechanical drive moves a roller shutter or shade. A connected actuator also has to send, receive and be integrated into a Wi-Fi network. Between a working first sample and a series-ready board lies a maturation phase that is often underestimated. This is exactly the phase the project history shows most clearly.
What We Built
PRODUCT: IOX developed actuator hardware with Wi-Fi connectivity for controlling roller shutters and sun protection. Between the first and the follow-up phase, the circuit board went through several iterations. A workshop clarified open points. Afterwards, errors in the circuit board design were fixed and the result was checked before the next stage.
TEAM: After the second development phase, the handover with complete documentation followed in August 2020. This is not a termination but a handover point at which the client receives all documents. Until December 2020, IOX additionally supported ongoing operation with hardware support.
The Result
A Wi-Fi actuator emerged from two project phases, with a dedicated maturation phase for the circuit board in between.
In August 2020, IOX handed over the product with complete documentation. Since then, the client can continue it on its own.
Until December 2020, hardware support continued during operation at the client.