SmartThings and Airzone transform A/C units into smart appliances

Airzone Control says three of the air conditioner controllers in its Aidoo product line can now be integrated with the Samsung SmartThings smart home ecosystem, allowing homeowners with popular inverter and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) air conditioners from the likes of Daiken, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, and many other brands—including older models—to be converted into smart appliances. The three SmartThings-certified controllers are Airzone’s Aidoo Pro, the company’s flagship product; the Aidoo Wi-Fi; and for the European Union only, the Aidoo Pro Fancoil. Where some competing devices control the HVAC unit via RF commands, each of Airzone’s products connects directly to the HVAC unit—i.e., it is hardwired—to provide bi-directional communication. And rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Airzone collaborates directly with more than 90 air-conditioning equipment brands to build specific controllers for each model, which the respective manufacturer then tests and approves before Airzone offers them for sale. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart thermostats. For homes with multiple units—e.g., mini-splits in several rooms—an Aidoo controller can be added to each one, so that they can all be managed and scheduled using Airzone’s app via the cloud. Aidoo says this is an easy DIY project requiring only a screwdriver. The Aidoo Wi-Fi ($160 on Amazon) is compatible with many models of mini-split, cassette, and ducted units (you can check for compatibility on Airzone’s website). It allows you to define schedules and scenes, monitor your HVAC system from anywhere, and control each unit individually with voice commands. The more expensive Aidoo Pro (final price depends on the device you intend to control) is more sophisticated, allowing you to integrate inverter and VRF units with third-party smart thermostats, third-party cloud services, and—for commercial installers and smart home integrators—building-management systems. Airzone launched a Z-Wave-compatible Aidoo controller earlier this spring. Thermostats