Case Study
Lychee Things
Smart Home / Door Automation
SmartSlydr — a motorized system that automates existing sliding doors with app/voice control, RFID pet access, and CES 2023 Innovation Award recognition.
Lychee Things
Tech Partnership
Smart Home
6 Months
- Unlock effortless access
- Smart Slider automatic sliding door openers
- Find the perfect Smart Slider
Key Outcomes
Delivered a retrofit motorized system that automates existing sliding doors without replacement installed tool-free with app, voice (Alexa, Google Home), and Apple Watch control
Integrated PetPass RFID tags for autonomous pet access (up to 4 pets), with pinch/obstacle protection and smart lock auto-locking
Earned CES 2023 Innovation Award (Smart Home category) and 8.75/10 rating from TechSpective, with successful Indiegogo launch
The Challenge
Before partnering with Iottive, Lychee Things was facing several issues:
Retrofit vs. Replace Dilemma
Smart door solutions typically require full door replacement a $2,000–$5,000 project. Lychee Things needed a motorized system that attaches to any existing sliding door, working with varying weights (5–10 lbs), track types, and door materials.
Multi-Protocol Connectivity
Smart home consumers expect integration with their existing ecosystem — Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Apple Watch, and standalone app control. Supporting all protocols while maintaining reliability required careful architecture.
Pet Access Automation
Pet owners needed a way for their animals to enter and exit through the sliding door autonomously. This required RFID tag detection, configurable open widths, and safety mechanisms to prevent injury — all in a consumer-friendly package.
Safety in Motion
A motorized door that moves up to 45mm/s with 18 lbs of drag force can injure children, pets, or fingers. The system needed fail-safe obstruction detection, pinch protection, and manual emergency release.
Our Solution
Iottive delivered a complete AIoT solution under a full-cycle product development model.
Bluetooth/IoT Expertise
Designed a Wi-Fi primary / BLE secondary connectivity architecture. Wi-Fi provides always-connected cloud access for voice assistant integration and remote control. BLE handles local communication with PetPass RFID tags and optional wall-mounted buttons.
Design Thinking Approach
Prioritized tool-free installation — the SmartSlydr attaches to the existing door track
with adhesive and clamps, no drilling or wiring required. AI auto-calibration detects door weight and track resistance on first run, configuring motor parameters automatically.
Project Planning & Execution
Developed in parallel streams: motor drive and safety systems (mechanical engineering), connectivity and app (IoT engineering), and voice assistant certifications (Alexa, Google Home). Coordinated timeline to achieve CES 2023 submission deadline.
Functionalities Delivered
App-controlled door open/close with customizable opening width (1–100%), voice control via Alexa and Google Home, Apple Watch quick actions, PetPass RFID tags for up to 4 pets with per-pet open width settings, smart lock with auto-locking, pinch and obstacle protection, manual emergency release, scheduling (auto-lock at night), and <1kWh/year power consumption.
Implementation Highlights
Sensors & Hardware
Motorized robotic drive unit with 18 lbs drag force, 45 mm/s travel speed, and 55 dB noise level. Current-sensing obstruction detection provides pinch protection without external sensors. RFID reader for PetPass tags.
Edge & Connectivity
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) for cloud connectivity and voice assistant integration. BLE for local PetPass RFID communication and optional wall-mount buttons. Edge processing for safety-critical decisions (obstruction detection responds in <100ms, no cloud dependency).
Firmware & Performance Optimization
AI auto-calibration algorithm profiles the door’s weight, friction, and track characteristics on first activation, then optimizes motor current profiles for smooth, quiet operation (<55 dB). Power draw under 1 kWh/year.
Data Analytics & Visualization
App logs door activity (open/close events, pet passages, manual overrides) and presents daily
summaries. Usage data helps owners identify patterns — e.g., pet access frequency — and optimize scheduling.
Dashboard & UX
Mobile app with visual door-state indicator, one-tap open/close, PetPass management, scheduling calendar, and lock status. Apple Watch complication for quick door control.
Security & Compliance
Smart lock encryption prevents unauthorized remote access. Wi-Fi communication secured via TLS. Meets UL safety standards for motorized devices. Manual emergency release ensures physical access during power or connectivity failures.
Results & Impact
- CES 2023 Innovation Award Honoree in Smart Home category
- TechSpective rating: 8.75/10, with praise for tool-free installation and pet access features
- Successful Indiegogo campaign (2021) validating market demand before retail launch
- Power consumption under 1 kWh/year — less than a night light— making it cost-neutral to operate
- PetPass feature cited as the #1 purchase driver in customer surveys, with an average of 2 pets registered per household
“We wanted to automate our sliding door without ripping it out and replacing it. Iottive built a system that installs in 15 minutes with no tools, auto-calibrates to our door, and lets the dogs come and go with RFID tags on their collars. The CES Innovation Award validated the technology, but what sold us was the 55 dB noise level — quieter than a conversation. The pinch protection gives us peace of mind with small children in the house.”
— Mitul Modi, Lychee Things
Lessons & Best Practices
Retrofit Wins Over Replace
Consumers will pay for automation that works with what they already have. Tool-free installation on existing doors removed the #1 barrier to smart door adoption — construction.
Safety Cannot Be Cloud-Dependent
Obstruction detection must respond in milliseconds and work during Wi-Fi outages. Edge-processed safety with <100ms response time ensured fail-safe operation regardless of connectivity.
Pet Features Drive Consumer Purchase
PetPass RFID functionality was the most-cited purchase reason. Building pet access as a first-class feature — not an afterthought differentiated SmartSlydr in a crowded smart home market.
Auto-Calibration Eliminates Returns
Doors vary wildly in weight, track condition, and resistance. AI auto-calibration on first run adapted motor behavior to each specific door, reducing ‘doesn’t work with my door’ support tickets by an estimated 70%.
Technology
Comprehensive IoT Technology Stack
From devices and connectivity to cloud, apps, and security — we leverage a full-stack IoT ecosystem to build scalable, secure, and future-ready solutions.
BLE
ios
Android Kotlin
Alexa
Google Home
Why Iottive’s the Right Partner
- Smart home protocol expertise: Iottive has built devices certified for Alexa, Google Home, and Apple ecosystem integration, managing the certification processes for each platform
- Motor control and safety firmware: experience building motorized consumer devices with safety-critical obstruction detection, meeting UL and consumer product safety standards
- Consumer IoT product launch: from Indiegogo campaign support through CES submission to retail distribution — Iottive supports the full product lifecycle
Next Steps for Lychee Things
Add Matter/Thread protocol support for universal smart home interoperability as the standard matures
Develop a SmartSlydr variant for sliding windows (lighter motor, different mounting profile)
Integrate with home security systems to auto lock the door when the alarm is armed
Launch a SmartSlydr Pro for commercial sliding doors with higher drag force and enterprise management features