At this month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Orbit announced the B-Hyve smart flood sensor that immediately alerts homeowners if a leak is detected, which can prevent flooding or other water damage to the home.
 
“We’ve developed the B-Hyve family of products using our 40 plus years of experience to fulfil our mission of providing smarter water control,” said Stuart Eyring, chief executive officer of Utah-based Orbit. “Now with the B-Hyve smart flood sensor, we are giving consumers even more power in their water use along with a peace of mind by being better prepared to avoid unexpected and costly disasters.”
 
The sensor is compact and has a water-resistant design, making it versatile. It can fit under most appliances, but is rugged enough to be placed in a window well or any other outdoor setting. The sensor can integrate with B-Hyve smart sprinkler timers and will stop all outdoor watering activities if the sensor detects any signs of flooding. It comes equipped with a replaceable battery that lasts more than a year as well as a small lanyard, making it easy to remove and place in other locations.
 
Features include:

• Immediate flood detection: The sensor can detect water at only a few drops, preventing potential flood damage.
• App and audible alerts: Connects to wifi allowing homeowners to be notified of leaks, flooding and freezing temperatures from anywhere on their phones. The sensor also has an audible alarm if homeowners aren’t close to their phones.
• Smart technology: Real-time cloud communications for updated settings, temperature readings, disconnection warnings and so on. Available with a wifi hub that connects to the flood sensor via Bluetooth.
• Simple tracking and management: Through the app, users can manage their flood sensors by adding a picture and location to address any issues such as low battery or help finding units.

Available starting early March 2020, Orbit will offer a starter pack that includes three flood sensors and a hub at $99. The sensor and hub will also be sold separately.

Also at CES, Orbit introduced the B-Hyve XR smart sprinkler timer. The XR uses wireless technology that paves the way for the future of the smart yard.

On the inside, the XR has a 900MHz radio creating a foundation for future innovations in the smart yard. The radio extends the reach of the signal to all corners of the yard and is able to penetrate physical barriers such as valve boxes. It will also support 2.4 and 5.0GHz bands, creating a seamless set-up experience and eliminating complicated router configurations for users.

“The new B-Hyve XR smart sprinkler timer is a major step forward in the evolution of smart sprinklers and is foundational to the next generation of the B-Hyve smart yard,” said Eyring. “We designed this product with the future in mind. With the powerful new radio, we’ll be able to extend the range of what we can monitor, control and connect within our yards, making them more environmentally friendly and easier to manage.”

On the outside, the weather resistant case allows users to mount the controller indoors or outdoors. The interface includes three informative hexagonal displays that gives users a glimpse into the status of the B-Hyve if they are in the yard and don’t have access to their phone, including zone run time and weather delays.

It includes B-Hyve’s proprietary WeatherSense technology that delivers the exact amount of water plants need based on a user’s yard profile and real-time weather conditions.

The XR works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and allows users to manage their devices using their voice.

Available late Q1, the XR will support eight- and 16-zone models and cost $149 and $179, respectively.

• Orbit has announced a strategic partnership with Flume, a source for real-time home water data. Through the partnership, the two companies will integrate their technologies to provide homeowners with insights into their outdoor and indoor water flow rates for better conservation and efficiency.