Smart technology and app-controlled devices are changing the camping industry, allowing more diverse groups of people to travel more often, longer, further and smarter.
A Smart RV is a recreational vehicle fitted with the technology to remotely monitor and control its various components and functions. Smart RVs raise the level of comfort when travelling, allowing a broader traveler base to engage in a ‘on-the-road’ lifestyle.
You have likely heard about smart technology in a home which allows users to monitor or manage the usage of their devices and appliances on functions like lighting and heating. While our homes have had this technology for some time, only recently have mobile apps, hardware and software been developed for RVs.
The most important device used by 4WDers and RVers is their 12V battery. Before apps, users were left in the dark – not knowing the status of their battery life while traveling, often relying only on a voltmeter or, in the best-case scenario, a display monitor built into their RV.
Today, there are two ways to monitor your battery – either via a retrofittable smart device or using the smarts pre-built in the battery. Retrofittable devices, such as designed by BMPRO Battery Check, measure current, battery voltage, temperature, and other parameters, and sends signals to your smartphone via Bluetooth. There are options in the market to monitor both secondary and active batteries.
Apps to Control Appliances
Among the apps, monitoring single camping devices are, for example, myCOOLMAN Bluetooth app, to check the temperature inside your refrigerator and change its settings, and YETI, monitoring lithium power stations with WiFi. Then there are apps to monitor RV levelling, tow weight, brakes, and more.
Smart TV Technology
Smart RV technology goes way beyond separate smart devices, and is a complete solution, ideally with one app doing all the jobs around your vehicle. Smart RV solutions currently available on the market control and monitor RV battery, power, appliances and other RV features, as well as store relevant information.
Typically, a smart RV system consists of a central node, variety of sensors, fixed control panel (touchscreen), and an iOS/ Android app.
Advantages of Smart RV Solutions
There are around a dozen of electronics manufacturers around the world developing and manufacturing smart RV solutions on a large scale. BMPRO is a pioneer of smart RV technology, having worked with Jayco Australia on the first product starting from 2013, and launching their first Smart RV product, JHub, in 2017. The company now boasts a large install base of smart solutions, offering four systems available in Australia and the United States, including RVMaster and JAYCOMMAND powered by BMPRO (designed specifically for Jayco US). Controlling and monitoring RV functions from one fixed screen and/ or their mobile phone provides RVers a new level of comfort, enables more efficient energy consumption and more convenient mobile living lifestyle, especially when free (dry) camping.
For people with various types of physical disabilities or the elderly, a smart RV is more than just a convenience factor – controlling all RV functions and centralized from the palm of the hand – provides an easier travelling experience. Smart RV concepts are also appealing to families with young kids and millennials, who are used to communicating with the world and objects around them through this very same technology.