Amazon Alexa support for ESP8266 devices.
This is a library for ESP8266-based devices that emulates a Belkin WeMo device and thus allows you to control them using this protocol, in particular from Alexa-powered devices like the Amazon Echo or the Dot.
This library is a port of Maker Musings' Fauxmo Python library.
Current Version is 2.0.0, this version shows some backwards incompatibilities with version 1.0.0. Check the examples to rewrite your code if you were using a previous version and read the changelog.
This library uses ESPAsyncTCP library by me-no-dev.
If you are using PlatformIO (check the section bellow on how to compile it) you can install them by adding the dependencies to your platformio.ini file:
lib_deps = ESPAsyncTCP
You will need to install the required library from sources. Your best option is to download the library as a ZIP file and install it using the option under "Sketch > Include Library > Add .ZIP Library...".
You can look for it manually but I have gathered the URL here for convenience:
| Library | Repository | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| ESPAsyncTCP by Hristo Gochkov | GIT | ZIP |
The library is very easy to use, basically instantiate an object, connect to the Wifi, add one or more virtual devices and bind the callback to get the messages. An schematic example could be:
#include <fauxmoESP.h>
fauxmoESP fauxmo;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
... connect to wifi ...
fauxmo.addDevice("light one");
fauxmo.addDevice("light two");
fauxmo.addDevice("light three");
fauxmo.addDevice("light four");
fauxmo.onMessage([](unsigned char device_id, const char * device_name, bool state) {
Serial.printf("[MAIN] Device #%d (%s) state: %s\n", device_id, device_name, state ? "ON" : "OFF");
});
}
void loop() {
fauxmoESP.handle();
}
(Check the examples folder)
Then run the "discover devices" option from your Alexa app or web (in the Smart Home section). A new device with the name you have configured should appear. Tell Alexa to switch it on or off and check your terminal ;)
Device discovery can be incomplete when you have lots of devices defined. Since version 2.0.0 different strategies are used to maximize the chance of getting all of them discovered during the first round.
Tests have been run with up to 16 devices with success but your experience might be different. If not all of them are discovered on the first run, execute the Discover Devices option again from your Alexa app or tell your Echo/Dot to do it. Once they pop up in your devices list (even if they are flagged as "Offline") they should work just fine.
The strategies the library uses to improve discoverability are:
- Space UDP responses to help Echo/Dot and the device itself to perform setup queries
- Repeat UDP responses for devices not queried
- Randomize UDP responses