The established Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) protocol is evolving to meet the demands of the IoT era. The DALI-2 certification program ensures multi-vendor interoperability for control devices like sensors and push-buttons. More significantly, the D4i standard defines a luminaire-level interface for built-in sensors, data logging, and connectivity. A D4i-certified luminaire has a standardized socket that can accept plug-and-play sensor or communication nodes, simplifying upgrades and maintenance. Furthermore, D4i mandates the storage of luminaire identity, energy, and diagnostics data (like operating hours) directly on the driver. This allows for easy access to critical information for asset management, predictive maintenance, and circular economy initiatives (like tracking material usage). This evolution solidifies DALI’s role as a robust, open-standard backbone for professional, data-rich smart lighting systems that are future-proof and easy to manage.
