Viewing the alternative development road of intelligent home from the control K2 socket

Text/Sohu It Tintin

The controller K2 Intelligent socket has been listed for some time, the network also has more trial articles. Recently, "Pretend to be a geek" after getting this product, the intelligent socket and accessories were dismantled, hoping to learn from the development of some intelligent hardware trends.

First, a few official product photos:

(Some external sensors and controller plugins for intelligent sockets)

The main difference between this new outlet and other sockets is that it adds two USB http://product.it.sohu.com/list/subcate_682_1.html to the socket to recharge the mobile device. In addition, can also connect external sensors, controllers and other accessories.

At present, the main function of intelligent sockets in the market is to provide switches, timing and other functions. Broadlink and other large scale and early manufacturers, has been trying to work with the relevant home appliances or other intelligent hardware manufacturers to achieve through intelligent sockets and apps to achieve the purpose of the linkage control device. In fact, an indisputable fact is that the so-called smart home, still in a very early stage. Most of the so-called "smart", only to achieve the "control" function. Of course, home appliances manufacturers and powerful intelligent hardware manufacturers have been in the layout of incremental market, I believe that with the development of intelligent technology, we will be able to get a better user experience. However, due to a large number of household appliances product replacement cycle longer, so that the stock market in the non-intelligent equipment has a certain "intelligent" function is also necessary.

The K2 socket does not provide simple functionality like other sockets. In the form of two USB interface add-in, theoretically this socket can achieve any desired sense, control and other functions.

Let's look at the internal structure of this socket first. On the board, you can find an extension board. The extension board has a familiar AR9331 chip. The reason is familiar, because there is a smart router manufacturer through this chip to tell the story, to achieve their own entrepreneurial dream, and has been VC and upstream manufacturers recognized.

Diagram: Circuit board

Qualcomm's AR9331 chips were first used by Tplink to make the most common routers. However, because of the MIPS architecture of a single chip solution has low prices, adequate functionality, strong expansion, open source community support and perfect features, has been more and more entrepreneurial team used to create their own intelligent hardware products. Similarly, there are MTK7620 chips. In addition to being used in a number of smart routes, the chip is also used by a number of other smart hardware products.

What needs to be explained is that the controller K2 the two USB ports of the intelligent socket, in which the white is the true USB2.0 interface. Another black USB interface is actually a RS232 serial port. Control technology on the level of the limit, so that even if plugged in or charging, this serial data level will not damage the real USB device interface.

The control guest K2 the plug-in to purchase is simpler. The cost is also relatively low, the retail price basically maintains in 30-40 yuan interval. If you buy its socket set, the average price of accessories is only about 25 yuan.

Through the access to different plug-ins, this socket has a human body induction, environmental monitoring, infrared remote control, curtain control, and other different functions. Through these plug-in modules, with the app can also achieve more intelligent functions.

This product, through external plug-ins, to achieve a number of other intelligent hardware product portfolio to achieve the function. Because of the low cost of external plug-ins, with the increase in demand, users can fully expand the application at a very low cost. This design idea, extended the product life cycle, to a certain extent reached the socket "never out of date" purpose. This is where other smart hardware vendors need special learning and reference.

Of course, after a few days of trial, "pretend to be geek" found that this K2 intelligent sockets also have some problems:

1, if you want an external USB hub to expand the sensor or other controller plug-ins, the current socket firmware can only identify a plug in the hub. Control technology officials say it will increase the ability to identify multiple sensor plug-ins on the hub in a future release.

2. After other devices install the control guest's app, also can control the home network socket. The current release of the firmware does not prevent this from happening. When sharing your network with your neighbors or friends, or when using certain WiFi-sharing apps, be wary of the old king next door.

3, there are some loopholes in the current socket firmware need to be patched. According to "pretending to be geek," there are already some security technology organizations that have exploited some of these vulnerabilities to invade the socket.