WiFiRanger recently announced the “Hey Ranger” AI Universal Assistant, an offline, artificial intelligence assistant with a custom vocabulary and skillset that allows voice control of almost any kind of RV component or system (e.g. lights, awnings, slides, generators, pumps, battery life, etc).
Systems manufacturers can build open-based “skills” that allow the Hey Ranger AI Universal Assistant to manage and report system status for their unique RV component.
“After mastering the RV connectivity solution, we turned our innovative technology team to the next major industry challenge: use voice control and AI to make complex technology in RVs simple and hidden,” said Kelly Hogan, CEO of WiFiRanger. “Apps, wall panels, annunciators, tablets, and remote access are last decade news. The future is all about AI and voice control, so we built an open based system that meets the challenge.”
The Hey Ranger AI Universal Assistant is an accessory that works stand-alone with WiFiRanger functionality or in conjunction with any generation of WiFiRanger. Owners can install skills through the WiFiRanger Control Panel for a variety of “Hey Ranger Ready” systems and immediately control those systems via voice. The system is entirely self-contained, which means it does not need the online cloud for processing voice or AI functions. This “localized” platform ensures the privacy and security of an owner’s voice commands and does not require an Internet connection to work.
The system allows OE’s to create custom brand vocabularies for the learning engine, so that unique features and areas in an RV can be summoned by the assistant.
“Listening to our nearly 100,000 direct customers and OE’s implementing new technology, we heard some consistent themes,” said Hogan.
WIFIRanger also facilitates complete owner security and privacy by allowing customers to record their own wakeup word for their RV or implement a dialogue verbal PIN before performing an action.
Adding to the convenience of the system, once the Hey Ranger AI Universal Assistant is online via the WiFiRanger, it can be summoned to temporarily act like an AlexaTM or OK GoogleTM device if the owner has accounts for those services, extending usage to those services as well.
WiFiRanger is already working with several systems manufacturers and will debut the prototype system at the Elkhart RV Open House on Sept. 24-28. The prototype will include showcasing voice control of lights, awnings, pumps, fans, and monitoring of legacy tank systems through a custom hardware bridge.
Initial shipments are scheduled for key OE’s in Q1 2019 with volume deliveries scheduled for model change mid-2019, and skills developed for a variety of system components.