The spaces we live in every day - from offices and homes to shopping malls - are increasingly relying on "smart controls" to make environments more comfortable, safer, and more energy-efficient. This is the essence of "building automation." Through sensors, controllers, and system platforms, it automatically adjusts lighting, air conditioning, power, fire protection, and security systems, making entire buildings "intelligent." In large, mission-critical facilities like AI data centers that operate around the clock, building automation is not just a tool for improving efficiency but also a critical guardian ensuring stable operations.
AI data centers are not ordinary office spaces. They process vast amounts of information and perform high-performance computations 24/7, requiring extremely high environmental standards. Temperature too high? Equipment may crash. Unstable power supply? Data may be corrupted. In such scenarios, building automation acts like an around-the-clock manager, constantly monitoring, adjusting, and protecting every corner.
Applications of building automation in AI data centers include intelligent cooling and temperature control, power management and backup monitoring, smart lighting and security systems, and remote monitoring and data analysis. Since AI servers consume significant power and generate substantial heat, the intelligent cooling and temperature control of building automation systems can flexibly adjust cooling air conditioners and airflow directions based on server workloads. This not only keeps equipment at optimal temperatures but also saves unnecessary energy consumption.
In terms of power management and backup monitoring, automated power systems can monitor electricity usage in real time, provide early warnings for anomalies, and automatically switch to backup systems during sudden power outages to ensure uninterrupted AI operations. Additionally, for smart lighting and security systems, beyond server rooms, data centers also include office, maintenance, and inspection spaces. Building automation systems can automatically adjust lighting intensity and operational schedules while integrating surveillance, access control, and alarm systems to ensure airtight security.
Finally, through remote monitoring and data analysis, managers can view real-time building statuses, energy usage, and equipment operations from anywhere via cloud platforms. Historical data analysis further enables continuous optimization of management strategies.
When discussing AI and future technologies, it’s easy to focus on software and algorithms. However, what truly enables AI to perform effectively is its solid and efficient "home" - the data center. Building automation is the core that makes this home safe, energy-efficient, and intelligently operational. Choosing building automation provides AI with a stable stage to perform and ensures future technologies advance steadily from this foundation.
Building automation becomes an indispensable key technology for AI data centers
Today’s AI data centers are not only core hubs for high-speed computations but also complex buildings requiring high-efficiency management and sustainable operations. To achieve this, "building automation" has become an indispensable key technology.
Simply put, building automation uses sensors, controllers, and intelligent systems to automatically monitor and adjust various facilities within a building, such as air conditioning, lighting, security, energy, and water resources. For AI data centers, such systems not only improve operational efficiency but also reduce energy consumption without compromising AI performance.
For example, automated air conditioning systems can adjust cooling strategies based on server loads and ambient temperatures to maintain optimal operating conditions. Energy management systems can integrate electricity usage data to dynamically adjust power consumption patterns, reducing peak demand pressure. Environmental sensing and early warning systems can respond in real time before anomalies occur, ensuring system safety and operational stability.
Moreover, when building automation is combined with AI technology, data centers can even learn and optimize operational models autonomously, enabling predictive maintenance, automatic scheduling, and intelligent resource allocation. This further improves efficiency, extends equipment lifespan, and reduces overall carbon footprints.
In summary, building automation shifts AI data centers from "passive management" to "intelligent operations," making them a foundational force supporting modern digital society.
Building automation solutions enable smarter and more efficient operations for AI data centers
Arrow Electronics and its partners are committed to making AI data centers operate more intelligently and efficiently, thereby improving operational performance. They have introduced numerous building automation solutions. Below, we will introduce the solutions offered by Arrow Electronics and its partners, categorized by application types such as KNX building control systems, indoor positioning and connectivity, and smart sensing and monitoring.
1. KNX building control system
In high-density, high-energy-consumption computing spaces like AI data centers, the KNX building control system plays a central role in building automation management. As an open, standardized automation protocol, KNX integrates various subsystems within data centers, including lighting control, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), energy management, security monitoring, and shading systems, enabling intelligent, automated centralized management. The roles of the KNX building control system in AI data centers include optimizing energy efficiency, environmental monitoring and real-time response, enhancing operational safety, and providing flexible scalability and integration capabilities. The KNX building control system offers AI data centers a visual, controllable, energy-saving, and secure smart building platform, reducing operational costs while providing a solid foundation for overall AI computing stability.
ST home and building automation solutions — leveraging extensive experience in KNX communication, STMicroelectronics (ST) provides comprehensive software and hardware evaluation tools to help developers build KNX devices with shorter development times and lower costs. These development tools include KNX transceivers, KNX software, wired KNX bus communication boards, and wired and wireless KNX bridge cards to ensure interoperability with locally deployed networks. STMicroelectronics also offers a rich product portfolio, including low-power STM32 microcontrollers, MEMS inertial modules, leading environmental sensors, and machine learning inertial measurement units, enabling extremely precise interaction with the surrounding environment.
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• STKNX — Comprehensive solution of home and building automation
2. Indoor positioning and connectivity
In the building automation of AI data centers, "indoor positioning and connectivity" solutions play a critical role in improving management efficiency and security. Using technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB, the system can track the real-time locations of personnel, equipment, or machinery, enabling applications such as personnel management, asset tracking, security alerts, and energy optimization. Personnel management tracks the movements and access records of maintenance staff, improving safety and response efficiency. Asset tracking quickly locates specific equipment or mobile tools, reducing search time. Security alerts notify or automatically trigger alarms when personnel enter restricted areas. Energy optimization combines location data to automatically adjust lighting and air conditioning, reducing waste in unoccupied areas. In short, indoor positioning technology injects real-time, precise sensing capabilities into the building automation of AI data centers, making overall operations smarter, safer, and more efficient.
RTLS and access (UWB) demo — This reference design is based on UWB technology, providing high-precision real-time location and access control system solutions. The reference design is commonly used for building or vehicle access control, asset/personnel tracking and indoor navigation, industrial safety zone control, vehicle parking systems, and even mobile VR/AR applications. UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology combines high-frequency signals with AoA (Angle of Arrival), PDoA (Phase Difference of Arrival), and TDoA (Time Difference of Arrival) techniques to deliver high-precision (up to 10 cm), reliable, secure, low-latency, and long-range real-time location solutions. The network scale can be further expanded by connecting all anchors to support more tags.
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• RTLS and Access (UWB) Demo
Mixed platform Matter smart home demo ── The Matter smart home demo is based on the IPv6-based smart home application communication protocol, developed and operated by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). This demo is based on CSA specifications, using NXP RW612 or NXP i.MX93 + Murata 2EL modules as Matter Open Thread Border Routers (OTBR) to build a Matter smart home network. Additionally, Silicon Labs FR32MG24, SiWG917, and NXP MCXW71 can serve as Matter end devices, joining the Matter OTBR for Matter smart home applications. The Multiple Fabric feature in the Matter network allows Matter end devices to join multiple Matter controllers (OTBR), enhancing usage flexibility.
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• Mixed platform Matter smart home demo
3. Smart sensing and monitoring
In the building automation of AI data centers, "smart sensing and monitoring" solutions act as the "sensory system" guarding the environment and equipment operations. Through various smart sensors (such as temperature, humidity, smoke, vibration, water leakage, and gas sensors) paired with real-time monitoring platforms, the system can monitor environmental conditions in real time, preventing risks like overheating or water leakage, issuing early warnings and automatic alerts to improve safety response efficiency, and monitoring equipment operating status to detect potential failures early. Combined with data integration and visual management, these functions help achieve energy savings and preventive maintenance. These capabilities ensure that AI data centers operate efficiently while maintaining safety, stability, and energy-efficient operations.
OPTIGA™ TPM SLB9672 TPM 2.0 FW15.xx Trusted Platform Module ── This is a TPM 2.0 firmware module introduced by Infineon. It complies with the TCG TPM Library Specification version 1.59 and the PC Client Platform TPM Profile (PTP) version 1.05. It features a PQC-protected firmware update mechanism, has achieved Common Criteria certification at EAL4+ level, AVA_VAN.4 (Moderate) according to the TCG PC Client TPM Protection Profile, and FIPS 140-2 Level 2 certification. It supports the SPI interface, meets Intel TXT and Microsoft Windows certification criteria for successful platform qualification, incorporates a Random Number Generator (RNG) implemented according to NIST SP 800-90A, and comes provisioned with 3 Endorsement Keys (EK) and EK certificates (RSA 2048, ECC NIST P256, ECC NIST P384).
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• OPTIGA™ TPM SLB9672 TPM 2.0 FW15.xx Trusted Platform Module
Security and surveillance AMR — Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) possess functionalities similar to self-driving cars. Their complex designs consist of multiple subsystems, enabling robots to move, observe, and operate safely with minimal or no human intervention. onsemi reduces this complexity through reliable smart power and sensing solutions, providing the essential building blocks for your design. onsemi’s subsystem solutions include rugged high-resolution imaging systems, high-power motor control, and efficient compact battery charging solutions, all built on decades of experience serving the automotive industry.
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• Autonomous Mobile Robots
MYBSP0122BABFT Series / MYBSP0055AABFT Series PoE PD Isolated DC-DC Converter ── This is a 25.5W isolated, regulated DC-DC converter for PoE PD applications launched by Murata. It has an input voltage range of 37-57V, offers a typical efficiency of 92.5% (12VOUT), and provides full 2250V DC isolation. It is an ideal choice for devices compliant with IEEE802.3at. The module includes self-protection features such as input undervoltage lockout and output current limit, which utilizes a hiccup auto-restart technique. It also performs detection and classification functions for the IEEE802.3at standard. The input current requirement for the PD module is 10mA or higher. It supports a Type 2 PSE Indicator and adapter ORing functionality, and is a surface-mount module.
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• MYBSP0122BABFT Series / MYBSP0055AABFT Series PoE PD Isolated DC-DC Converter
Motion network camera — Infineon’s surveillance camera and doorbell application integrates Infineon’s XENSIV™ BGT60TR13C 60GHz radar sensor module, installed on the AIROC™ CYW55913 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Evaluation Kit (EVK). Using Infineon’s Presence Sensing and Zoning Android app, users can configure radar zoning algorithms and view presence feedback. This implementation reduces the number of separate MCUs required for radar processing and connectivity, further lowering PCB area and bill of materials (BoM) costs. Key product features include presence detection and zoning, the number of detected targets, distance and angle detection for each target, and reduced MCU requirements for radar processing and connectivity.
Security camera and doorbell application
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• XENSIV™ 60GHz radar sensor
XENSIV™ 60GHz BGT60LTR11AIP radar sensor demo board — The BGT60LTR11AIP is a fully integrated microwave motion sensor, including an antenna structure, configurable built-in detectors, and a state machine enabling fully autonomous operation. It is designed as a Doppler motion sensor, operating in the 61 GHz to 61.5 GHz frequency band. The integrated frequency divider with a phase-locked loop (PLL) provides voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency stability and allows continuous wave (CW) operation. The BGT60LTR11AIP integrates a low-phase-noise push-push VCO for generating high-frequency signals. The packaged monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) includes a wide-beam antenna for maximum coverage.
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• Non-Contact Vital Sign Measurement Using Radar Sensor
NXJ1T Series Isolated 1W Single Output SM DC-DC Converters — This series utilizes new patented technology and conforms to an industry-standard footprint for DC-DC converters launched by Murata. The NXJ1T series is manufactured in the UK, incorporating proprietary block-coil transformer technology within a surface-mount molded package. The NXJ1T delivers high isolation, low leakage current, and outstanding temperature cycling performance in harsh industrial environments. It is patent-protected, features a lower profile, is recognized under UL 62368-1, has pending recognition for ANSI/AAMI ES60601-1, 1 MOPP, passes a 4.2kVDC isolation Hi-Pot Test, is produced using automated manufacturing, includes short circuit protection and undervoltage lockout, exhibits a characterized CMTI >200kV/μS, and supports a continuous barrier withstand voltage of 400Vrms.
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• NXJ1T Series Isolated 1W Single Output SM DC-DC Converters