In the mechatronics lab
Starting signal for networked sanitary rooms
More and more operators of public and semi-public buildings want WCs, urinals and washbasin taps to be able to be connected to a building automation system. The team in the Geberit mechatronics laboratory is helping to ensure that this customer requirement will soon come true.
The Geberit control electronics for toilet, urinal and tap systems are equipped with a Bluetooth interface. Furthermore, they are also prepared for a wired connection to a higher-level system such as a building automation system (BAS).
Networked sanitary appliances
While the Bluetooth interface is already being widely used – for example, to set the amount of water in a urinal flush via smartphone – the cable connection remains unused. But not for much longer. “For months, we have been testing the wired connection between the control electronics on our appliances and a BAS,” explains Danilo Corciulo, Head of the mechatronics laboratory in Rapperswil-Jona (CH).
A focus on professional applications
But why connect a washbasin tap or a urinal flush control to a BAS in the first place? “It can be very useful if facility management at an airport or hotel chain knows how often the individual sanitary appliances are used, for example, in order to plan cleaning or maintenance work better,” explains Danilo Corciulo. He has installed a GAS on his laptop, like the one used by facility managers. With it, he can directly control the various apparatus controls that are installed on a test bench in the mechatronics lab. “We go as close to reality as possible in our tests and check all the different functionalities,” Danilo Corciulo elaborates.
Mechatronics – a focus on interfaces
Mechatronics is a discipline that deals with the interaction between mechanics, electronics and IT. The mechatronics laboratory at Geberit Group headquarters in Rapperswil-Jona has been in place for almost three years. “As an increasing number of sanitary products now contain electrical components, it makes sense for Geberit to have its own in-house expertise in this field,” explains Danilo Corciulo.