NXP’s New Dev Kit Simplifies Home Automation

NXP Semiconductors has released a software development kit (SDK) that works with Apple’s HomeKit, enabling design engineers to automate thermostats, door locks, and other home products using Kinetis microcontrollers.

NXP’s new software development kit enables design engineers to automate thermostats, door locks, and other home products using Apple’s HomeKit and Kinetis microcontrollers.
(Source: NXP Semiconductors)

The NXP HomeKit Software Development Kit, as it’s known, is targeted at OEM engineers who want their products to be remotely controlled through Apple devices, such as iPhones or iPads. “This is for companies that make light switches, outlets, thermostats, security systems, and other home products,” Rudan Bettelheim, product manager for software at NXP Semiconductors, told Design News. “In many cases, they are experts at their own applications, but they may not be experts at networking or electronic control. So by offering this solution, we’re taking care of the areas where they may have the least comfort.”

Apple’s HomeKit, introduced prior to NXP’s announcement, enables developers to control lights, stoves, thermostats, door locks, window shades, and many more home products.

NXP’s new SDK takes Apple’s concept a step farther, however, enabling the creation of HomeKit-compatible solutions for products employing Kinetis K microcontrollers, such as the K11, K22, K24, and K26 and Bluetooth-based Kinetis KW30Z and KW40Z microcontrollers. To facilitate the development process, it provides security libraries, application programming interfaces, sample applications, and other forms of necessary software.

READ MORE ABOUT KINETIS MCUs:

The first product based on the new NXP Kinetis technology is the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt from Allegion Plc. Schlage’s HomeKit-compatible IoT solution uses NXP’s Kinetis K11 MCU. It is designed to allow users to remotely control their door locks using Siri voice messages through an iPhone, iPad, or iPod.

”With this, we can speak directly to the (Apple) iOS right out of the box,” noted Donald Beene, product manager for Smart Home Products at Allegion.

NXP engineers also expect the new SDK to be used on a wide variety of as-yet unforeseen applications around the home. Company engineers have already used it to create an automated chicken coop. They say it could be applied to home pet doors, as well.

Bettelheim believes the technology taps into a potentially powerful market. “With Apple behind it and actively promoting it, we expect home automation to see very significant growth,” he said.

Senior technical editor Chuck Murray has been writing about technology for 32 years. He joined Design News in 1987, and has covered electronics, automation, fluid power, and autos.