Lutron announces a number of expansions to its signature lighting control systems, promising to bring both fashion and functionality to the HomeWorks QS and RadioRa 2 control systems.

The HomeWorks QS system gets "subtle elegance" with the Palladiom keypad, a minimalist number featuring simple operation and a "beautiful architectural aesthetic." In a company first the keypad has buttons and faceplates in the same material (plastic, glass or metal) for a coordinated look, as well as large, tactile buttons with backlit engraved text.

Lutron Dynamic Backlight Management allows customers to set the right backlight intensity for any ambient lighting conditions.

The Helvar Active+ is an out-of-the-box standalone lighting solution consisting of an LED driver and what the company describes as its "smallest sensor yet" built into the luminaire.

Being self-learning, the Active+ driver and sensor use 60-100 hours to learn about the surrounding environment-- as in external daylight conditions and other luminaires around it. The system detects human presences, and in areas with several luminaires if the surroundings are vacant and lighting is not required it switches the luminaire to into daylight energy saving mode.

Philips adds dimming to the Hue app-controlled lighting system in the shape of a "straight out of the box" wireless dimming kit consisting of a battery-operated dimmer switch and one Hue bulb.

The dimmer switch connects automatically with Hue bulbs, and handles up to 10 bulbs simultaneously. It can be mounted as a normal wall switch or used as a portable remote, and Philips promises "perfect" flicker-free dimming.

Crestron announces the GLS-LDL-EX-BATT-- a battery-powered dual-loop photosensor the company says provides superior natural light sensing and indoor light control for daylight harvesting applications.

It monitors natural daylight from windows, automatically adjusting shades and lighting to reduce energy usage while maintaining the comfort and convenience. To do so it uses 2 internal photocells (one for open-loop daylight sensing, the other for closed-loop ambient light sensing) to effectively cut costs in residential, commercial or retrofit applications.

Hamilton Litestat launches the GRID100LED-- an intelligent LED grid module the company says monitors and programs itself for the best dimming performance when in use with the same or mixed brand LEDs.

It handles a variety of mains dimmable lamps and luminaires, and is compatible with Hamilton, BG, Crabtree, Deta, MK, Hager and GET grid plates, making it ideal for retrofit applications.

"Based on our highly successful Grid-IT range, the GRID100LED has been designed to deliver ultimate flexibility and is extremely straightforward to install," Hamilton Litestat says. "We have spent a significant amount of time during the research and development process focused on ensuring this new Module fulfills and exceeds the LED dimming control expectations of electrical contractors and installers.”

The Vocca promises to be an easy means of adding voice-activated smart lighting to homes, being an adapter customers simply need to screw into lighting sockets together with a bulb, no further installation required.

Once installed, users simply need to voice the command "Go Vocca light" to switch the lighting in question on or off. No mobile devices, apps or wifi connectivity are necessary.

According to the makers the Vocca adapter carries power conversion, voice recognition (developed by Sensory) and SSR relay features. The voice control works simply enough. The adapter listens for the command phrase 24/7, and takes/gives power to the connected bulb once it is heard.