Smart lock makers August and Yale have announced a new integration program with smart lighting pioneer Philips Hue, slated to debut in the August, Yale Connect, and Philips Hue mobile apps later in September 2020. The new integrations will be designed to work with August and Yale smart locks, and require the presence of a Philips Hue Bridge. These will include home and away varieties of automation functions between the smart locks and lighting, as well as features designed to welcome visitors and thwart would-be thieves.
What To Expect from August, Yale, and Philips
While we have not had a chance to test drive the new apps yet, August and Yale have told us to expect the following types of features when their smart locks are linked to Philips Hue lighting:
- Welcome Home with Lights: With this feature activated, your selected Philips Hue lights can be set to automatically light the way as the August- or Yale Assure-equipped door is unlocked.
- Leave Home Worry-Free: As you depart the home and secure the smart lock, selected Philips Hue lighting devices can be set to automatically simulate the presence of people through a series of smart automation scenes, thereby helping to thwart would-be thieves.
- Share Access to Your Home: With this feature, apparently aimed primarily at Airbnb and other short-term rental scenarios, guests can be welcomed to their home away from home with lights that illuminate automatically as the front door is unlocked through the August or Yale Connect app or keypad.
We would also expect these scenarios to work with other existing August and Yale Connect features, including Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock, which are based on geofencing technology.
Philips Hue Bridge Required, Broad Lighting Options
For consumers considering implementing these new integrations with August and Yale, be aware a Philips Hue Bridge will have to be in place in the home. And when it comes to the lighting itself, the Philips Hue line has been expanding over the years far beyond the individual LED light bulbs that got them started—so you have plenty of options for either inside or outside the dwelling.
Today, the company offers myriad interior options including ceiling lights, recessed lights, floor lamps, LED light strips, vanity mirror lights, and more. For the outside, options range from downlights suitable for illuminating your front door or garage, as well as a broad selection of landscape lighting, spot lights, and path lights.
