LG Electronics (LG) and LUMI United Technology, an Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home solution provider, have signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding to develop an ecosystem that goes beyond basic appliance management to deliver a more complete IoT solution for the home.
The partnership will focus on developing innovations using AI and advanced sensors that can detect changes in indoor environments such as humidity level, temperature and movement of doors.
LG products embedded with LUMI’s advanced Aqara sensor technology will save energy and increase convenience as well as enhance safety and comfort in the home. An Aqara sensor in the home set to the preferred temperature will enable an LG air conditioner to operate automatically. With a connected Aqara sensor attached to a window, the user will receive a notification when the window is opened while the LG appliance is in operation.
Real-life demonstrations of the LG and LUMI partnership will be on display at IFA 2019 in Berlin next month.
At LG’s exhibition stand, an LG dehumidifier employing LUMI technology will be shown maintaining clothes in optimal condition by automatically regulating the humidity level. Also demonstrated will be LG’s WK7 intelligent speaker connected to an Aqara LED Light Bulb that changes the lighting in the room when it hears the words “Cinema Mode”.
“We are very excited to partner with LUMI and to share our latest smart home living solutions with visitors to IFA 2019,” said Ryu Hye-jung, executive director of LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company’s Smart Home Business. “Through this strategic partnership LG will evolve the connected home ecosystem in ways that will matter to consumers, expanding our smart home solutions to include smart buildings as well as smart cities.”
LG has been focusing on the smart home market for a while now. In February, the South Korean vendor expanded its voice recognition-enabled smart home appliances, with over two dozen markets expected to be on board by the start of the second quarter.
With the company’s valued artificial intelligence (AI) partners Google and Amazon expanding sales of AI speakers globally, LG anticipates a simultaneous increase in demand for appliances supporting voice recognition. Millions more LG home appliance owners across the world will enjoy a smooth, connected smart life that includes some of the world’s most popular home products.
Consistent with its open strategy for enhancing global users’ daily lives through open partnerships, open connectivity and open platforms, LG will continue to work closely with valued AI partners Google and Amazon to deliver more integration to LG customers.
Through Google Home and Amazon Alexa, LG will expand voice recognition support of its home appliance products to 21 countries by April, beyond the current six markets.
LG offers an extensive lineup of smart home appliances, including premium washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, air purifiers and Styler. Using conversational voice commands, users can effortlessly control their LG appliances and monitor their operation for the ultimate in smart home convenience.
In a sentence, users can connect Google Home or Amazon Echo to the full range of smart features available to LG appliance owners. For example, users can check the time remaining on their washing machine’s cycle, adjust the temperature of the air conditioner and check on dinner in the oven, all with simple verbal commands.
