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Harnessing smart expandability

The 1960s are perhaps best remembered as the age of Free Love, forever cemented in the public consciousness for flower power, frayed bellbottom jeans and a certain four young lads from Liverpool who captured the world’s heart and went on to become the biggest rock-and-roll band of all time. It was also a watershed era for science and technology, with the United States putting the first human footprints on the moon just as the decade was drawing to a close.

A lesser-known, though undeniably important advancement from this period in human history is the development of the first true smart device in 1966, a sort of proto-computer that was able to compute shopping lists, control the home’s temperature and turn appliances on and off.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0 as it is called, has rekindled interest in creating largely autonomous, self-monitoring systems through the integration of machine-to-machine communication and of course, the Internet-of-Things (IoT). Over the last decade or so, smart technology has become ubiquitous and can be found in everything from mobile phones and watches to vehicles and refrigerators. It seems that the world we were promised by futurists and dabblers in science fiction has finally arrived and crystallised into our reality.

But what are the implications of this interconnected world from a security standpoint?

For one thing, linked systems are able to communicate, coordinate and create feedback loops to provide a much more intelligent and robust configuration. Emancipated from wires, these solutions can work independently or in concert and are enshrined in the digital schema of the information age.

It is in the heady glow of this technological revolution that Centurion Systems designed the D5 SMART gate motor: a product that is as powerful as a standalone solution as it is as part of a larger security ecosystem. With its trio of main features consisting of high-speed operation, intelligent theft and break-in protection – which includes a patented theft-deterrent cage and integral vibration sensor – and dual battery backup for continued operation during power outages, the D5 SMART is a compelling innovation.

Harnessing the expandability of the device, the user can connect a G-ULTRA GSM solution to remotely control and monitor their gate from anywhere using only their phone and the custom G-REMOTE mobile app. Besides remotely operating one’s gate, the ULTRA range can be used for a plethora of other applications, such as switching on lights, controlling pool pumps and sprinklers and monitoring fluid levels and mains power – all from one’s phone.

To achieve a complete solution for smart security, Centurion’s WiZo-Link creates wireless connections between devices, meaning that the D5 SMART’S vibration sensor can be easily interfaced with a sound bomb or alarm system to deter would-be criminals and alert homeowners to tampering at the gate or gate motor and can even be linked to armed response companies for swift reaction in the aforementioned events.

With the D5 SMART, Centurion is also making life easier for installers via easy access to mounting hardware, optimised cable routing and a dedicated accessory tray for neatly and safely stowing complementary solutions, such as GSM devices. Where the operator really shines, however, is in its SMART technology which enables the installer to easily set up and configure the gate motor using an interactive smartphone app. The app, which is called MyCentsys Pro and is available to download free for iOS, Android and Huawei devices, uses graphic wizards to guide the installer through the commissioning of the system and boasts a suite of features tailor-made to unleash the full power of Centurion’s most innovative gate motor yet.

Moreover, the app provides instant access to diagnostics and system health such as the state of the battery, controller and mains power, which means no more wasting time onsite – often in the blazing sun or pouring rain – and helping installers to get more jobs done.

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