digitalSTROM is more than a product: We regard ourselves as a company that is actively shaping digital transformation in homes. And we are doing this so that it brings its users clear added values – and is reliably easy to utilise. To this end we network interdisciplinary competences, ideas, know-how and visions that successfully move us forward together with our partners.
Electric lighting was not invented through the evolution of candles. Therefore, we have been taking a new look at and re-inventing the fields of digital networking and communication – and are the holders of powerline communication and electricity metering patents. And we are constantly working on the next ones.
digitalSTROM is flexible and freely scalable – from the detached family home through to major construction projects, but also for doctors’ surgeries and shops. In use, we cover everything from control to metering – for all home technology from lighting through to electricity and water metering.
We are always forward-looking and work actively on the future of living. Along the way, our achievements, milestones and successes provide us with a sure foundation – and the certainty of being on exactly the right path.
After a development period of seven years, successful market entry in Switzerland and Germany.
Expansion of the system by voice control, sensor technology and hail alert app plus integration of products such as SONOS and Philips Hue.
Launch of the proprietary Cloud solution “my.digitalSTROM” plus further product components and applications, for example heating control.
Internationalisation with market entry in other European countries plus expansion to Asia and realisation of various major international projects.
First applications based on machine learning plus development and implementation of the dS device bots.
Integration of all kitchen appliances from V-ZUG as well as the humanoid robot “Pepper” with applications such as “Barista” or “Personal Butler” into the digitalSTROM platform. Integration of the multi-service platform and hence fast access to services.
Fully automated and largely situation detection-based orchestration. Chat and voice as amplified element for control, retrieval, query and configuration. Next generation digitalSTROM Powerline Chip comes into use.
We think and act multi-dimensionally. Because we are convinced that the complex requirements of future organisation demand an integrated perspective. And we put what applies for our systems and products into practice in our central working areas too: We create connections that systematically move all participants forward.
We have developed technologies and are continuously developing them further. We utilise different technologies and bring them together. We have a great understanding of technology – which enables us to deliver the optimum product to customers. Along the way, our know-how extends from chip development for our own terminals through to artificial intelligence and cognitive services. This breadth is what digitalSTROM is made of. And nevertheless, for all our technology we always think from the customer’s viewpoint: How are they living at home – and how do they want to live in the future?
New things are created when talents are to hand. With them, we can kick off innovations. That is not all, though: Talents also reduce complexity. For only this way are we capable of guaranteeing simplicity for customers and electricians, while nevertheless delivering high-performance systems. The breadth of our talents ranges from pure technology through to the design of the user experience. We have talents ourselves, but also network with the talents in the individual areas of expertise, in order to deliver the best product for our customers.
We are a brand that symbolises our product: simple, carefully thought-out, reliable, intelligent. We fit in with the world’s high-end apartments and houses just as much as more basic abodes. We offer added values, from the most straightforward appliance through to the most complex. But we remain ambitious, farsighted and appealing everywhere.
You will find current information on changes in the management of digitalSTROM AG here.
Adrian Obrist graduated as an informatics engineer from the ETH Lausanne and has a Master’s degree in Management, Technology & Economics from the ETH Zurich.
Following his studies, the 37-year-old held various management positions within the energy and automation group ABB. Prior to his move to digitalSTROM AG, Obrist was responsible for the industrial maintenance operations of the world-leading company Quant for three years, as Managing Director.
In March 2017 Adrian Obrist joined the company digitalSTROM AG as Chief Operating Officer (COO). He has been heading the operations of the multi-award-winning German-Swiss smart home company as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since May 2018.
Balz Halter is the principal shareholder and Administrative Board Chairman of Halter AG, a corporate group in the construction and real estate industry that is a leader in Switzerland. Under his leadership the family-run company, soon to be 100 years old, evolved from a local construction firm in 1987 into a corporate group that is active throughout Switzerland today. Halter gave up operational management five years ago. Since then, the 55-year-old ETH engineer and jurist has engaged intensively in the technology field and participates in several companies that have been started up in partnership with the ETH Zurich. These firms develop energy-efficient solutions for building technology – among others, for energy production and storage – as well as digital platforms for the networking of appliances and use of Cloud-based services. They include, among others, digitalSTROM AG, BS2 and streamNow. He is co-founder of the BUILDING TECHNOLOGY PARK in Schlieren, as well as of the 2SOL-Allianz
Digitisation knows no bounds. That is why we are present with digitalSTROM across the world. From the location and market in Europe, we also have our eye on the growing megacities in Asia in particular, such as Istanbul, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This is because their need for intelligent networking is growing exponentially – and we offer the solution for it.
We offer a special customer experience in the home that is convenient and brings enjoyment.
We relieve our customers of burdensome, mundane chores and thereby save them effort and time.
We create a healthier living environment for our customers
We make the home safer and reduce the number of serious domestic injuries and deaths as a result
We use automation to expand our customers’ capabilities and ensure that they have all the expertise they need in all relevant areas.
We adapt to our customers’ individual life situation – even if this changes as a result of age or other circumstances.
We ensure that operation and expansion of the home is so easy that anyone can do it.
We create efficiency that is the basis for ensuring that everyone can live this standard without destroying our planet.
We fulfil these demands at an optimum price.
The digitalSTROM platform differs from numerous other systems, because it offers considerably more possibilities and standardises even more. It thereby fulfils important conditions for the mass market:
1. It integrates services
2. It orchestrates all appliances
3. It equips appliances with high intelligence
The digitalSTROM terminal forms the basis for networking all analogue appliances. Extreme miniaturisation means that it is possible to digitise analogue appliances such as lamps, shutters, roller-blinds and switches. Power electronics makes it possible to switch and dim lamps, for example, and meter their power consumption. The terminals possess a small computer with data storage, on which the lamp’s behavioural logic is mapped, for example.
Digital appliances that cannot yet be networked are equipped with a small circuit board. Through this they are directly integrated with the digitalSTROM system via the powerline. The appliance thus automatically becomes part of the platform simply by being plugged in. Integration is therefore really easy for appliance manufacturer and customer alike.
The open system approach offers the opportunity to incorporate systems and appliances from third-party manufacturers – even via different protocols and standards. In the process, the digitalSTROM platform relies on the two most stable and future-proof infrastructures in the home: The powerline and the IP network.
The powerline is the central infrastructure in the home and supplies all essential appliances with energy. Using the powerline for communication means that every connected appliance can be reached and networked. An extremely flexible energy and data infrastructure is therefore available both in new developments and existing buildings.
In the long term, the IP network is set to play an ever-more important role for communication in the home. Besides the existing WLAN, though, in future it will also be available as a wireline LAN network in every nook of the home. As a result, not only will the onboarding of appliances be made easier, but a high data rate will be reliably enabled in addition.
A unique user experience, intelligent devices, a seamless orchestration, countless connectivity options and future proof infrastructure are the key characteristics of a digitalSTROM smart home. As part of the digitalSTROM platform, homes, rooms and devices can adapt to the residents wishes. That’s what makes a smart desirable for everyone – regardless of age, technological affinity or investment size.
In the communication between the digitalSTROM terminal and the digitalSTROM meter, a frequency modulation method is applied that varies the power. The time-windows are distributed randomly; the dSM detects collisions and can intervene and control accordingly. The terminals have both functions mapped in a custom-made chip. The dSM is equipped with appropriately powerful micro-controllers.
The patented transfer logic is based on a master/slave principle. The dSM built in behind the fuse in the fuse-box generates a small voltage fluctuation in the direction of the appliances, close to the zero transition, and these fluctuations are interpreted by the terminals. These conveyed messages function as a broadcast, that means that all terminals in a power circuit receive the signals and decide which ones are intended for them. Due to the construction of the power circuit-related interplay, a room allocation is automatically enabled that allows genuine Plug & Play.
The dSS is a Linux-based server on which the digitalSTROM operating system (dS-OS) is installed. It takes care of the hosting environment, that is, connection to the dS-OS as a Cloud service. In addition, it supplies numerous APIs for appliances and operating elements. As a hosting environment, the virtual device containers (vDC) are additionally supported there.
The digitalSTROM terminal implements the corresponding protocol on dS-Powerline. In this case, the connection to the appliance is produced via the powerline and converted to the corresponding protocol close to the appliance. The appliance behaviour is deposited on the terminal, which means that appliances can be fully integrated straight away.
Digital controllable household appliances and other appliances with an IP interface are networked by digitalSTROM via WLAN or LAN. Integration into the network is performed via so-called virtual device containers (vDC). The vDCs deposited on the dSS replicate the entire functionality of the terminals, including the network adapter and the standard appliance behaviour, in the software and translate the digitalSTROM signals for the micro-controller in the end device.
digitalSTROM is an infrastructure that networks any number of appliances in a household. Electrical appliances are integrated via the powerlines, and the ever more numerous IP-capable appliances via GBit‑Fiber‑in‑the‑Home. The permanently built-in infrastructure components are low-maintenance and very durable, robust and outage-proof. Their lifetime is planned according to building technology renovation cycles. The digitalSTROM system is updatable, upwardly compatible and capable of integrating future developments.
digitalSTROM is an operating system that allows household appliances, building technology, entertainment electronics, alarm and assistance systems to act correctly automatically. Everything can be operated via existing switches and panels, via smartphones, tablets, computers, televisions or via innovative speech interaction devices such as Amazon Echo. Occupants can perform configurations themselves – simple and intuitive apps are always available.
digitalSTROM functions locally and without an Internet connection. If users wish to utilise services that are provided in the digitalSTROM Cloud, they access them via the Internet. These may be services by digitalSTROM or third-party providers.
Our innovative strength and successes are supported and advanced by a constantly growing team of talents. Together, we work on accomplishing the digital transformation in the home and making life more convenient, safe, energy-efficient and simple for people within their own four walls. And because we are active in a booming market, we are always on the lookout for new talents.
For people with personality and a strong sense of individual responsibility. Who enjoy designing and taking on responsibility. Who are willing to develop further, both personally and together with us. And those who additionally wish to join us in advancing the (r)evolution of living are in exactly the right place with digitalSTROM.
From highly-specialised chip, hardware or software developers through marketing and communication experts to supply chain manager or professional sales manager. For us, the one thing it is all about is finding the right talents and attracting them to our company. In order to work jointly on realising our vision – and not only at our two company locations in Schlieren and Wetzlar. But everywhere. And digitally, too.
Would you like to learn more about digitalSTROM? Are you looking for an expert near you? Want to experience digitalSTROM in person?
