Mobile access is becoming commonplace: the user gets access to a facility by sending a request to an electronic lock. The lock recognises the request, verifies the provided access code and opens up. Current radio frequency-based communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, near-field communication (NFC), and Bluetooth are applied in a large variety of applications. However, they have serious security drawbacks: the data can be picked up by devices within a 10 metre radius, they are susceptible to hackers, consume large amounts of power, are not interoperable with all operators and platforms and usually require costly hardware. With our Visible Light Communication solution LightKey, we can provide secure mobile access through photonics without any of the drawbacks of currently available mobile access solutions. It can be used on any mobile device as mobile phones already have the required hardware component (LED in the mobile´s flashlight). There are three steps: 1) download and activate LightKey to mobile phone, 2) introduce personal code and 3) LightKey triggers the camera flash or screen light and modulates and optical custom code. For instance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8y1MLSqrr0 We have the advantage that the global market for Visible Light Communication is about to explode: global annual revenues are predicted to increase from $268 Million in 2014 to $113 Billion by 2022 (CAGR of 126%), as a result of advances in the technology as well as the wide-spread and low-cost application potential. Our revenue model is based on the sales of optical receivers for the receiving locks and doors at around €120 per unit (locks, health). The execution of the LightKey project will allow us to enter the market faster. Based on a discount rate of 25% the NPV is estimated at €7,314,100, and the payback period will be shortened to 2 years. Our mission is to be supported by the EC in order to reduce “time-to-market” as much as possible.

LightBee S.L. innovated the solution which uses LEDs installed in any transmitter to transmit binary codes by means of light modulation to an optical receiver which later decodes the light flash. The light is transmitted at a very high speed to avoid the possibility to distinguish values by video camera or human eye. It allows auto check-in and access control to private property or office only with the mobile information. The LightKey product based on Visible Light Communication (VLC) is very powerful and at the same time low cost technology, that can be adapted to grant safe access permission by using merely mobile device with the performance similar to intrusive and expensive NFC and RFID technologies. The set consists of Control Unit, Optical Receiver, mobile application and uses standard electronic lock. As there is an increasingly urgent need for authenticated entrance and the universal integration of mobile devices in our society is observed, LightKey has the chance to meet the broad range of innovative customers of the Access Control Market: private companies and independent users (hotels, complexes, condominiums, car makers) and public customers where security is a top priority (hospitals, banks, administration). When considering further proliferation of solid-state lighting (SSL), LED importance, the fact that nowadays technologies: NFC, Bluetooth, WIFI are subject of security problems related to data transmissions and moreover the increasing crime rate related to domestic burglary worldwide, VLC can become the most promising technology in terms of commercial viability. A full assessment of customer needs and the elaboration of a realistic business plan with in depth market feasibility study is the main objective of present Phase 1. After positive output following tasks will be addressed during Phase 2: analysis of remote communication, optical receiver optimization, integration with other technologies, certification, cloud service development.

SUPERIOT aims at developing a truly sustainable and highly flexible IoT system based on the use of optical and radio communications, and the exploitation of printed electronics technology for the implementation of sustainable IoT nodes. The dual-mode optical-radio approach provides unique characteristics to the IoT system. The system can be reconfigured to use optical, radio, or both connectivity approaches. The hybrid optical-radio system allows very efficient use of resources while combining the advantages of both wireless communication methods. Energy autonomous nodes can harvest energy from both sources, resulting in an efficient and reliable energy system. Positioning accuracy can be also improved by combining optical and radio signals. Moreover, the dual-mode approach results in a highly flexible and adaptable communication system, that can operate efficiently under changing conditions and in different scenarios. The implementation of the IoT nodes will aim at maximizing printed electronics usage, resulting in a cost-efficient, environmentally friendly solution. Nodes will have essential IoT functionalities such as sensing, actuating, and computational capabilities. As important as the development of a sustainable and flexible IoT node will be the development of its networking capabilities. The project will also identify, develop, and demonstrate applications for the proposed concept. Four demonstrators will be developed at the final stage of the project, including a) Reconfigurable optical-radio IoT node implemented with printed and conventional electronics technologies (Application: smart tags), b) Reconfigurable optical-radio IoT network (Application: logistics in medical ICT scenarios), c) Limited capability IoT node implemented with printed electronics technology only, and d) Large-area IoT node/repeater. The SUPERIOT concept is based on developing an IoT system that is both sustainable by design and sustainable by implementation.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are driving a revolution in lighting systems due to their superior energy efficiency, and are already entering the Internet of Things (IoT) market with embedded sensory functionalities. By bringing connectivity to every LED bulb, Visible Light Communication (VLC) offers the opportunity to write the next chapter of the LED revolution with the language of ubiquitous networks. With VLC networking still in its infancy, ENLIGHT’EM will take the unique opportunity to design IoT systems that leverage the low baseline energy consumption of LEDs to jointly deliver lighting and networked communication. ENLIGHT’EM will explore the emerging field of low-energy VLC systems for the IoT to design and demonstrate sustainable networking solutions. ENLIGHT’EM will train a new generation of innovators and provide them with the know-how to contribute to the development of the IoT in the world of 5G and beyond. Fifteen early stage researchers (ESRs) will evolve into leading-edge experts in a diverse array of sub-fields leading to the integration of low-energy VLC into the IoT. The ESRs will acquire and hone cutting-edge skills contributing to IoT areas such as connected energy, light, living and cities through a multidisciplinary network of experts from universities, research institutes, SMEs, and large companies.

So far, the Internet of Things (IoT) is narrowband with no latency constraints. A wider range of applications is envisioned for industrial manufacturing, augmented reality and autonomous cars. It makes use of artificial intelligence, where compute functions will be offloaded from devices into the cloud. Accordingly, future IoT will need wireless links with high data rates, low latency and reliable connectivity despite the limited radio spectrum. Connected lighting is an interesting infrastructure for IoT services because it enables visible light communication (VLC), i.e. a wireless communication using unlicensed light spectrum. LED luminaires have enough modulation bandwidth for high data rates and each luminaire can be used as a wireless access point. Networked VLC-enhanced luminaires will add new features to build a wireless network for the IoT. ELIOT will start from existing prototypes and develop the support for IoT services. The project will integrate the lighting infrastructure with VLC and add positioning, multicast communications and enhanced security. ELIOT will demonstrate the new infrastructure in real environments at TRL ≥6 and mobile IoT devices at TRL ≥ 4. Main project goals are to provide an open reference architecture for the support of IoT in the lighting infrastructure, build consensus reflecting the best architectural choices, contribute to standardization of lighting and telecom infrastructures in IEC, IETF, IEEE and ITU-T and provide a roadmap for IoT until 2022 and beyond. ELIOT brings together Europe’s key players that cover the whole value chain, i.e. OSRAM, Philips Lighting and Tridonic as major component and luminaire makers, Maxlinear as chipmaker, NOKIA as a leading network vendor and integrator, BMW, Weidmüller and Thyssen Krupp working on industrial IoT, Deutsche Telekom and KPN as innovative operators, together with Fraunhofer HHI as a leading research institute and two top universities from Eindhoven and Oxford.