Domotag

An Intelligent Anti-theft Device

Hard times are looming for burglars and lock pickers! A revolutionary alarm system that protects both the home and its valuables has just been released on the market. Manufactured by Tag Technologies, a business located in Labège, near the city of Toulouse, Domotag was made a reality through the efforts and expertise of researchers at CNRS' LAAS.¹ Its process breaks new ground by allowing occupants to stay at home while the system remains armed.

The system features a central unit and a series of matchbox-sized intelligent sensors that can be attached to doors, windows, and any valuables. The sensors use radio frequencies to communicate with the central unit, which is connected to the GSM network. If anything out of the ordinary happens at home, the system can warn you directly via your cell phone and/or inform a surveillance company. The system can also be used as a notification device for isolated persons or for those requiring assistance.

Domotag came to life when manufacturer Jean Prunet devised an anti-theft and intruder system with the potential to revolutionize the home-alarm market. In 2003, he called on a team at LAAS headed up by Daniel Estève to breathe life into the concept. Together, they set up a basic research project under the direction of another LAAS researcher, Jean-Yves Fourniols. By the end of 2004, the scientists had successfully developed a system that complied with the specifications drawn up by Tag Technologies.

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© TAG Technologies

The Domotag surveillance system lets you move throughout the home while the alarm system is armed.

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One of the difficulties underlying the project was overcoming the problems associated with radio wave transmission between the system's various components and discriminating between the messages sent by the sensors. The solutions adopted enable the system to detect the difference between a normal event and an abnormal event that would indicate an attempted break-in. Unlike conventional infrared systems, Domotag allows the system to be active while occupants are at home, and also allows pets to move around freely.

Domotag also achieved another technological breakthrough in terms of managing power consumption, with each sensor featuring a battery life of one year. In 2005, the system won an Award for Innovation from an association based in the Midi-Pyrénées region. This is a fine example of the type of partnership between scientists and entrepreneurs that LAAS hopes to further encourage.

As far as Tag Technologies' CEO Prunet is concerned, “Without such a partnership, we would never have been able to progress from the drawing board to the industrial product, or map out Domotag's future.” No doubt about it–hard times lie ahead for burglars!

Sebastián Escalón