element14 is now stocking the EnOcean Switch Design Kit, developed in collaboration with element14 and 3YOURMIND, the online portal for accessing professional 3D print services. The kit allows users to create a customizable switch, based on design data provided by EnOcean.

The EnOcean Switch Design Kit is an out-of-the-box, IoT ready kit that is flexible and cost effective. It allows an entry point to revolutionary technology for experimentation and prototype applications by innovators from business or the maker community.

The design utilizes energy harvesting technology, removing most of the design and application barriers to allow for rapid deployment of the concept and technology. Energy harvesting technology uses energy from movement, light and temperature to power sensors and radio communications with ambient energy.

For the maker market, this represents a significant opportunity. Rather than managing complex wiring within designs, the self-powered device from EnOcean can simply be placed into an existing installation. The switch application enables flexible lighting control in places without cables. Switches can easily be added where they are needed, for example, next to a bed, and the partnership with 3YOURMIND, means that switches can designed to seamlessly integrate into the end design, without the ‘made by hand’ look.

The EnOcean Switch Design Kit is available from Farnell element14 in the UK and mainland Europe. 3D Printed components can be directly ordered from 3YOURMIND.

You can read more about the EnOcean Switch Design Kit on the element14 community and element14 design center.

Using the popular Raspberry Pi single board computer, these out-of-the-box, IoT-ready starter kits are flexible and cost-effective gateways to developing intelligent building products for hospitals, homes, airports and other venues on the way to a seamlessly connected IoT. The Entrepreneur kit is more technical in nature, for ‘makers,’ engineers and start-ups, while the Enterprise model caters to facilities mangers, property owners and property management companies.

The Entrepreneur solution includes EnOcean self-powered sensors, a Raspberry Pi and EnOcean Pi boards from element14, and provides access to the IBM Watson IoT Platform and Bluemix services from IBM. The Enterprise model includes EnOcean OEM self-powered sensors and EnOcean Gateway from element14, as well as access to software and services from IBM including IBM’s Watson IoT Platform and IBM TRIRIGA facilities management software.

EnOcean’s energy harvesting wireless technology provides self-powered, wireless sensors to capture and transmit data across an increasingly connected IoT network. They use miniaturized energy converters, which gain energy from motion, light and temperature of the surrounding environment, allowing the sensors to work without batteries, and are maintenance-free. The converters, together with wireless modules, comprehensive energy management and ultra-low power radio communication offer OEMs a complete energy harvesting platform.

The IBM Watson IoT Platform allows organizations to securely and easily connect devices, from chips and intelligent appliances to applications and industry solutions. Scaling through cloud-based services and using rich analytics, the IBM Watson IoT Platform provides organizations with new insight for innovation and transformation. IBM TRIRIGA provides a single system to manage the lifecycle of facilities. Its integrated workplace management system increases the operational, financial and environmental performance of facilities.

Both products are expected to be available early April, from Newark element14 in North America, Farnell element14 in Europe and element14 in Asia-Pacific. Engineers and buyers can access a wide range of technical information, tools and resources regarding the kits on element14’s Community and Design Center.

To learn more about the collaboration between element14, IBM and EnOcean, please visit element14.com.