This NAS Firm Aims to Power Your Smart Home Setup

Ugreen, a brand recognized for its phone power banks and chargers, is making a significant leap into the smart home arena. At the recent IFA tech show, the company unveiled its HomeAgent smart home platform, which merges security camera storage, on-device AI, and smart home control into a single system, all managed by a voice assistant named Uliya. The standout feature is that everything operates locally.

At the heart of the HomeAgent system is a hub that serves as the central control unit for your smart home. It utilizes a local-first AI (with some limitations) that you can engage with using natural language through Uliya. There are three different hub configurations available, each designed to store data locally and process video footage on-site, ensuring privacy without the burden of monthly subscription fees—though the initial investment may be higher.

The main selling point is that your data remains within your home, addressing two major concerns in the smart home space: privacy and ongoing costs. Ugreen claims its robust AI operates directly on the hub, offering features like cross-camera tracking, smart alerts for people, vehicles, pets, and packages, as well as live status inquiries like “where is my pet now?”

Additionally, the system includes AI-driven video search and text descriptions of events, along with natural language voice control for smart home devices and automations. Beyond just camera footage, it can also store personal files such as music, movies, and photos, functioning similarly to a NAS.

This setup eliminates the monthly storage fees typically associated with popular cloud-based solutions. The HomeAgent HA100 will launch at an early bird price of $899, with the HA100 Pro priced at $2999, and the high-end MasterAgent MA100 model, powered by Nvidia, hitting a staggering $9999. These systems are set to debut on Kickstarter in October, after which Ugreen anticipates that prices will roughly double.

The concept of consolidating your digital home and life into a single hub that leverages local AI for storage, management, and operation is gaining momentum. Other companies like SwitchBot, Reolink, and Aqara are also exploring this territory, and Anker recently introduced a similar product called the Eufy MindBase.

Both Ugreen’s and Anker’s systems utilize the Matter smart home standard, allowing for compatibility with devices from various brands. During my visit to Ugreen’s booth at IFA, I experienced a hands-on demo where I controlled Nanoleaf lights and smart blinds using voice commands directed at Uliya through the HomeAgent hub.

The HomeAgent hub acts as a Matter controller and will support third-party devices via Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth, NFC, ONVIF/RTSP, and PoE. Ugreen plans to release a compatibility list, which currently includes devices from Aqara, ThirdReality, SwitchBot, and Eve. While any Matter device should theoretically work, the initial phase supports only lights, switches, sensors, and curtains, with a recommendation to use approved products.

Ugreen is also rolling out a smart speaker to operate Uliya, along with a range of security cameras: the SynCare Indoor Cam ID500 Pro, the SynCare POE Cam OD600 Pro, and a battery-powered SynCare Cam OD800 Pro. A unique feature is the integration with Ugreen’s new E Ink Spectra-powered digital photo frame, which can display photos stored on the hub without needing to go to the cloud.

The three versions of the HomeAgent hub offer varying levels of processing power for more advanced AI features:
– The HomeAgent HA100 can handle basic rule-based automation and control through specific voice commands.
– The HomeAgent HA100 Pro enhances this with semantic and context-aware understanding.
– The MasterAgent MA100 delivers the highest level of local computing power via an NVIDIA Jetson Thor T5000 platform.

While the HomeAgent can operate entirely locally, features like push notifications and remote viewing of security camera footage will require internet access. There’s also an option to utilize the cloud for the Uliya voice assistant.

The idea of keeping all your data within your home while still leveraging AI to manage your smart home and digital life is certainly appealing. The success of Ugreen’s HomeAgent will hinge on its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing devices and how user-friendly it is to set up and operate.