history - Sofabaton Universal Remote

About SofaBaton

Simpler Control for Everyday Entertainment

Founded in 2018, SofaBaton develops smart universal remotes that make home entertainment easier to control. We combine innovative technology with intuitive design to give users around the world a simpler, more unified way to control their devices."

Our Philosophy

At SofaBaton, we believe innovation goes beyond adding more hardware. From coordinating infrared and Bluetooth in our earliest products to building a global cloud-native architecture, our engineering team continues to improve the way people interact with their devices. Our two product lines follow complementary paths: the U Series provides versatile control through a standalone remote, while the X Series connects compatible devices through a central hub. By improving the technology at the heart of our products, we aim to make whole-home control simpler and more intuitive."

Corporate Social Responsibility

At SofaBaton, we take our responsibilities to users, partners, the environment, and society seriously. As we develop smart control technology, we aim to make reliability and sustainability central to our products and services and to conduct our business responsibly."

A Message from the Founder

Our hope is that one day, people can spend less time figuring out how to control their devices and more time enjoying movies, music, games, and moments with their families.
Thank you to every user, partner, and team member for your trust and support. Your feedback and encouragement drive SofaBaton forward."

Corporate Development Axis

"SofaBaton U3: A New Realtek Platform with Air Mouse and Expanded Connectivity
R&D Milestone: We upgraded to the Realtek 8773EWP processor to support more advanced control features and improve overall performance.
Air Mouse and Voice Control: The U3 offers Air Mouse navigation and Google Assistant voice control on compatible Bluetooth devices. Each feature requires native support from the connected device.
Bluetooth Connectivity: The U3 supports Classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), with simultaneous connections to up to three compatible BLE devices. Classic Bluetooth supports one active device connection at a time.
Expanded RF Support: The U3 can learn and control compatible 433 MHz and 315 MHz RF devices. An optional R1 IR repeater enables control of infrared devices beyond line of sight."

"SofaBaton X2: ESP32-S3 Performance and Expanded Smart Home Integration
R&D Milestone: We moved to a dual-core processing platform and redesigned network protocols, device models, and data transfer mechanisms to support broader smart home integration.
Dual-Core Processing: We upgraded the main controller to the ESP32-S3 and optimized device-model reporting to improve connection stability and responsiveness for Alexa and Google Assistant voice control.
Smart Home Integration: We added Home Assistant integration and expanded support for local Wi-Fi device protocols, giving users more ways to control compatible devices on their home network.
Turbo-IR™ Encoding: We developed a proprietary IR encoding and decoding method to compress command data and improve responsiveness. The algorithm also corrects errors in the IR code library to improve command accuracy.
Smart-Delta™ Firmware Updates: Our differential over-the-air (OTA) update method transfers only the changed portions of the firmware, reducing download size and update time. Smaller downloads can also help reduce interruptions on unstable connections."

"SofaBaton X1S: More Reliable Connectivity and Cloud Backup
R&D Milestone: We upgraded the hub processor to improve multitasking performance and connection reliability in complex home networks, including those with multiple access points.
Control Link Improvements: We improved communication between the remote and hub for more reliable control. The X1S also supports learning and control of compatible 433 MHz and 315 MHz RF devices.
Local Network Control: We improved the hub’s connection to the home router and made device discovery on the local network more reliable. We also added HTTP-based control for compatible devices on the local network, including Sonos speakers.
Cloud Configuration Backup: We updated the cloud infrastructure and added backup for user configurations, making saved settings easier to restore."

"SofaBaton U2: Stronger Infrared Performance and Motion-Activated Wake-Up
R&D Milestone: We increased peak infrared output and widened signal coverage to improve control in more demanding home setups.
Key Features: We introduced an accelerometer to detect movement and wake the remote more reliably."

"SofaBaton X1: Cloud-Connected, Hub-Based Control
R&D Milestone: We introduced a hub-based control system, pairing a remote that uses a proprietary 2.4 GHz RF protocol with a hub that manages compatible devices.
Key Features: The hub combines an ESP32-C3 controller, an Infineon 20730 Classic Bluetooth module, eight IR emitters, and an IR receiver for learning commands. Integration with Espressif RainMaker enables cloud-connected control, including Alexa and Google Assistant voice integration."

"SofaBaton U1: The Foundation of Versatile Universal Control
R&D Milestone: We combined infrared and Bluetooth control in a compact remote and developed precise coordination between the two protocols.
One-Touch Macros: We developed a Macro feature that runs a sequence of commands across multiple devices with a single press, establishing the software foundation for versatile universal control."