Comprehensive self-research supports Xiaomi in creating a new experience for smart air conditioners

[Secret News]On May 9, 2023, Xiaomi held an offline air-conditioning media communication meeting. At the meeting, Xiaomi shared its development history of air-conditioning since 2018 and its technical achievements: In 2018, the first Internet air-conditioner entered the air-conditioning industry ; In 2020, Xiaomi established the Home Appliances Division, and in the same year established a fresh air air conditioner project to solve the technical problem of low noise and large fresh air volume, driving the growth of fresh air air conditioners; in 2022, Mijia's first self-developed air conditioner will be launched. In the past few years, Xiaomi started with its first hot-selling air conditioner and gradually improved its product line, forming a product matrix of huge power saving, soft air, natural air and fresh air.

In terms of technology, in the past five years, Xiaomi's air-conditioning products have not only evolved from customized self-research to comprehensive self-research, but also have many independent intellectual property rights and internationally leading innovative technology certifications. Self-developed technology has become Xiaomi's core competitiveness in the air-conditioning industry, bringing users a more intelligent, convenient and comfortable home experience.

Self-developed technology accelerates product competitiveness

From 2018, when Xiaomi launched its first Internet air conditioner to enter the air conditioning industry, to 2022, when Xiaomi's first fully self-developed air conditioner was launched, Xiaomi relied on its product concept of cost-effectiveness and continued to build its career with technology to gain recognition from a large number of users, and gained recognition for its design and functions. , performance, service and other aspects of excellent reputation. In the past five years, the transformation of air conditioners from customized self-research to comprehensive self-research has been achieved.

Thanks to the support of self-research, Xiaomi's overall compound growth rate of air conditioner categories has increased by more than 50% in the past two years, and it will achieve a breakthrough of 3 million units shipped in 2022. The company continues to increase its self-developed technology and has obtained a number of core technology certifications in the air conditioning industry. In the future, in order to allow more users to enjoy the results of self-research on air conditioners, Xiaomi will also make efforts in the home central air conditioner market and explore overseas markets.

Shan Lianyu, general manager of the Air Conditioning Division of Xiaomi Group, said at the communication meeting that making a good air conditioner is a basic need, and technological empowerment is Xiaomi's mission as an Internet brand. Therefore, Xiaomi must not only make basic products, but also make a smart and good air conditioner. Xiaomi defines products through technology and takes technology as the starting point. Therefore, Xiaomi's self-developed technology is the starting point for air conditioners to achieve their current achievements. It also serves as a roadmap to empower technology through continuous traction of technology. At present, Xiaomi actually has complete technical capabilities in seven major sectors of the air-conditioning industry, including system performance, structural solutions, electronic controls and appliances, embedded software, motor drive algorithms, fluid fans, and noise and vibration. Continuous investment in self-developed technology can also help Xiaomi lead the way in overtaking technological home appliances.

In order to continuously improve its technical strength, Xiaomi has joined forces with Huazhong University of Science and Technology to continue to upgrade its research and development capabilities and quickly realize the technical concept of “production for one generation, research and development for one generation, and reserve for one generation”. Xiaomi has also built an air-conditioning joint technology center laboratory in Wuhan to provide a strong guarantee for continued increase in research and development capabilities.

Unique technological strength creates intelligent experience

Wu Junhong, R&D Director of Xiaomi Group’s Air Conditioning Division, shared Xiaomi’s current technical level in air conditioning hardware, health, and intelligent systems. First of all, in the hardware part, Xiaomi has proposed three gold standards for outdoor air conditioners: hardware, function and performance. In terms of hardware standards, the core components of air conditioners are the first-tier products in the industry; in terms of functional standards, it supports wide temperature range operation from -35 to 60°C, rapid cooling in 30 seconds and rapid heating in 60 seconds, anti-quench defrost, temperature and humidity Dual control and other technologies; in terms of test standards, Xiaomi has nearly 900 working conditions before leaving the factory, and has also passed three-party extreme tests to ensure stable operation of air conditioning and refrigeration in extremely hot environments.

In the field of health, Xiaomi entered the field of fresh air air conditioners in 21 years to solve the technical pain points of low-noise and large fresh air volume in the fresh air category. It achieved the maximum fresh air volume of 60m/h for hanging fresh air without expanding the hole. After the hole was expanded, the vertical fresh air achieved even better It has a maximum fresh air volume of 215m/h, leading the industry to the highest level. Xiaomi also conducted a global optimization design for the cross-flow fan blades and air ducts of the fresh air air conditioner to achieve quieter and more energy-saving operation, and has achieved the best sales in this category for 9 consecutive months. In the field of health, Xiaomi provides an innovative health five-piece set for air-conditioning products. Through the sterilization and self-cleaning functions as well as the anti-mold, mosquito repellent, and dust removal filter technologies, the blown wind becomes cleaner, and combined with the fresh air function, it provides a cleaner Healthy indoor environment.

As for the intelligent system, Xiaomi's unique advantage is to rely on the platform to realize intelligent linkage throughout the house. When the air conditioner is connected to the Mijia APP system, you can turn it on and off, remotely control, check the operating status of the air conditioner, etc. through Xiaoai's voice. By linking thermometers and hygrometers, smart bracelets, smart door locks, humidifiers and other products, you can also create a comfortable whole-house smart home experience.

Xiaomi also has the world's leading certified air-conditioning intelligent temperature control energy-saving technology, which can be used with Bluetooth temperature and humidity meters to control the temperature of active areas in a targeted manner. The industry's first full-link OTA technology for air-conditioning internal and external units allows users to upgrade old air-conditioning products with new functions through OTA, allowing old units to enjoy new functions and adapt to new accessories, reducing usage and update costs.

Different from the traditional industry's definition of a good air conditioner with sufficient materials, large air volume and high APF, Wu Junhong, R&D Director of Xiaomi Group's Air Conditioning Division, said that in addition to focusing on energy efficiency, main performance, quality and reliability of air conditioners, Xiaomi also focuses on intelligence and health. A breakthrough was also achieved. Xiaomi's goal is to form an entire AIoT air-conditioning system through the advantages of the intelligent interconnection platform, and to adjust and optimize the software and algorithms through the three dimensions of perception, decision-making and execution, to achieve the ultimate in air-conditioning energy efficiency, performance and reliability. Although Xiaomi is a latecomer in the air-conditioning industry, it has surpassed traditional companies through brand-new product concepts, has done more solid work in building technical capabilities, and leads the entire industry in terms of health and intelligence.

Expand industry boundaries with innovation

At the end of the communication meeting, Zhang Feng, President of Xiaomi Group’s Home Appliances Division, also talked about the future development of air conditioners. Mr. Zhang Feng emphasized that in order to be recognized by the market, innovation must be used to expand the boundaries of the industry and bring a new sense of technology and value to consumers. Otherwise, the same products will not be popular. Xiaomi will continue to improve and upgrade air conditioners from the aspects of high quality, intelligence, health, and environmental protection, so that everyone can afford good air conditioners.

At the beginning of its launch, Xiaomi did not intend to compete with traditional air-conditioning brands. Instead, it relied on the advantages of Xiaomi's smart ecology to create more intelligent and healthy air-conditioning products, expand industry boundaries, and revitalize the market. Xiaomi's goal is to let more people enjoy the better life brought by technology, pursue technological equality, and achieve this goal by allowing consumers to enjoy the better performance and functions brought by products.