Quilt’s Heat Pumps Get a Power Boost via Over-the-Air Update
▼ Summary
– Software updates are common in consumer electronics and automobiles but not yet widespread in other industries like HVAC.
– Heat pump startup Quilt recently released an over-the-air update that increased heating and cooling capacity by over 20% for installed units.
– The update was enabled by higher-quality sensors and data monitoring, allowing performance optimization without hardware changes.
– Quilt’s team includes engineers from tech companies like Tesla and Apple, where over-the-air updates are standard practice.
– This approach allows Quilt to improve existing products and expand their customer base without designing new hardware models.
The idea that software can enhance the hardware we already own is no longer limited to smartphones or electric vehicles. A recent development from heat pump manufacturer Quilt demonstrates how over-the-air updates are now making their way into home climate control systems, delivering tangible performance gains without any physical modifications.
Last week, Quilt announced it had successfully deployed a remote software and firmware upgrade to its installed heat pumps, resulting in a more than 20% increase in both heating and cooling capacity. This kind of performance boost is virtually unheard of in the HVAC industry, where equipment typically remains unchanged from installation until repair or replacement.
According to Quilt CEO Paul Lambert, the company intentionally designed its systems to support continuous improvement through remote updates, a philosophy borrowed from the electric vehicle sector. “We feel like we’ve created software-defined HVAC,” Lambert remarked, emphasizing that this approach is a first for residential heating and cooling systems.
The capacity upgrade didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of careful engineering and customer feedback. Isaac McQuillen, who led the project, explained that some users with larger or more open living spaces needed higher output. The team discovered that Quilt’s units, outfitted with higher quality sensors than typical residential systems, had unused potential.
These advanced sensors, including precision pressure, temperature, and current monitors, provided the data needed to safely push the system’s limits. After extensive in-house testing, Quilt rolled out the update, which modified software on the main processor and firmware on microcontrollers across both indoor and outdoor units.
The numbers speak for themselves. Before the update, Quilt’s outdoor unit delivered up to 19,700 BTUs per hour for cooling and 20,500 for heating. Post-update, those figures jumped to 24,000 and 25,200 BTUs per hour, respectively. Importantly, efficiency ratings remain unchanged, the units simply handle extreme temperatures more effectively.
This capability does come at a cost. Quilt invested in better sensors, enhanced data monitoring, and built-in networking hardware to enable seamless updates. As Lambert noted, these additions slightly increased the bill of materials, but the company believes the long-term benefits justify the expense.
Beyond immediate performance gains, this update strategy allows Quilt to serve a wider customer base without developing new hardware. It’s a forward-thinking approach that blurs the line between physical products and digital services, proving that even home appliances can evolve after they leave the factory.
(Source: TechCrunch)
