After the update to version 1.3, smart home standard Matter can also handle equipment such as EV chargers, but also kitchen appliances and smart devices for water and energy management.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released its first major update to Matter last year. The update to version 1.2 introduced support for home appliances including refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines. You could now also connect smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to the Matter ecosystem. Matter 1.3 builds on this success, the CSA said in a press release. Support for home appliances in particular has been expanded.
Updates in Matter 1.3
In addition to home appliances, the smart home standard with version 1.3 adds support for EV home chargers and energy and water management. A total of nine new product types are added to the smart home standard:
- Microwave: users can control cooking time, power level and operating mode and receive notifications such as “end of cycle” or “food ready” when the microwave has finished working.
- Oven: configurations such as built-in, free-standing or as part of a cooker with an associated hob are included in Matter 1.3. Each oven compartment can be individually controlled from the perspective of operating mode (standard, convection bake, roast, steam, roast/grill, rise) and temperature setting with information about the status of the oven (i.e. preheating or cooling). Notifications such as preheating and target temperature reached are supported.
- Hotplates: With Matter 1.3 there is support for hobs, allowing remote access and control. The individual elements of the hob allow temperature control and measurement, provided regulations allow it.
- Extractor hood: Matter 1.3 supports hobs and stoves in combination with extractor hoods. This allows control of the light and fan settings of such devices, as well as the status/life of the filter material used.
- Tumble dryers: washing machines have been supported since Matter 1.2, and this time the CSA is also adding support for clothes dryers. Users can choose the correct mode and target temperature and start or stop the dryer remotely, subject to local regulations.
- Power management: From Matter 1.3, devices can report how much energy they consume, either by predicting this or providing actual consumption figures. Such information, about consumption or energy generated, can be displayed in real time.
- EV home charger: it is possible to manually start or stop charging, adjust the charging speed or specify how many kilometers of range to add by a set departure time, with the charging station automatically optimizing charging so that it happens at the cheapest and least carbon-rich times.
- Water management: support for leak and freeze detectors, rain sensors and adjustable water valves provide homeowners with enhanced monitoring, management and protection of the water in and around their home.
Scene support
Matter 1.3 also adds support for so-called scenes. We have known such presets for some time from smart lamps, where you can save certain settings. From version 1.3 you can also create such presets for Matter equipment. For example, you can switch off all your lights on a specific floor in one fell swoop and immediately close the roller blinds.
Rollout of new Matter version
The Connectivity Standards Alliance says the SDK for Matter 1.3 is now available to smart home manufacturers. They can now add the standard to their devices. The makers of smart home hubs can now also add the standard. It is not yet clear when the first devices that support Matter 1.3 will arrive. The CSA has not yet made any statements about this.
Tags: Matter offers support categories
