Amazon Alexa support for ESP8266 and ESP32 devices.
This is a library for ESP8266/ESP32-based devices that emulates Philips Hue lights and thus allows you to control them using this protocol, in particular from Alexa-powered devices like the Amazon Echo or the Dot.
Before version 3.0.0, the library used a different protocol (emulating Belkin Wemo devices). The library was a port of Maker Musings' Fauxmo Python library to the ESP8266 platform. Support for ESP32 and Gen2 devices was added by Frank Hellmann and Bibi Blocksberg respectively.
Since version 3.0.0 the library uses a different approach and emulates Philips Hue lights instead. This allows for a simpler code and also support for numeric values (you can now say "Alexa, set light to 50"). This version has been inspired by the node-red-contrib-alexa-local plugin for NodeRED and the ESPalexa library by Christian Schwinne.
Besides the libraries already included with the Arduino Core for ESP8266 or ESP32, these libraries are also required to use fauxmoESP:
ESP8266:
- This library uses ESPAsyncTCP library by me-no-dev
ESP32:
If you are using PlatformIO (check the section bellow on how to compile it) the required libraries should be installed automatically.
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:
| Device | Library | Repository | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP8266 | ESPAsyncTCP by Hristo Gochkov ESP8266 | GIT | ZIP |
| ESP32 | AsyncTCP by Hristo Gochkov ESP32 | 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.setPort(80); // required for gen3 devices
fauxmo.enable(true);
fauxmo.onSetState([](unsigned char device_id, const char * device_name, bool state, unsigned char value) {
Serial.printf("[MAIN] Device #%d (%s) state: %s value: %d\n", device_id, device_name, state ? "ON" : "OFF", value);
});
}
void loop() {
fauxmo.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 ;)
Current status of the library:
| Platform | Gen1 | Gen2 | Gen3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP8266 Core 2.3.X | OK | OK? | OK (1) |
| ESP8266 Core 2.4.0 | OK (2) | OK? (2) | OK (1, 2) |
| ESP8266 Core 2.4.1 | OK (2) | OK? (2) | OK (1, 2) |
| ESP8266 Core 2.4.2 | OK (2) | OK? (2) | OK (1, 2) |
| ESP32 | OK | OK? | OK (1) |
(1) When using gen3 devices TCP port must be 80 always. (2) Arduino Core for ESP8266 requires LwIP set to "v1.4 Higher Bandwidth".
-
fauxmoESP 3.1.X: When using with gen3 devices TCP port must be 80. You can define it with the
setPortmethod. -
fauxmoESP 3.1.X: If you application already uses port 80 you can prevent fauxmoESP from creating its own webserver and inject the values from your application handlers to the library. Check the fauxmoESP_External_Server example.
-
fauxmoESP 3.X.X: When using Arduino Core for ESP8266 v2.4.X, double check you are building the project with LwIP Variant set to "v1.4 Higher Bandwidth". You can change it from the Tools menu in the Arduino IDE or passing the
-DPIO_FRAMEWORK_ARDUINO_LWIP_HIGHER_BANDWIDTHbuild flag to PlatformIO. -
fauxmoESP 2.X.X: The
onGetStatemethod accepts a function (a callback) that will be called when a new message arrives. Try not to do many things inside the callback, it should return as fast as possible. Instead of adding logic here just save the data (device_id and state, for instance) and process it from your main loop. -
Some people have reported problems when the ESP and the Alexa devices are connected to different wireless networks (like 2.4 and 5GHz bands on some routers). See https://bitbucket.org/xoseperez/fauxmoesp/issues/53.
Copyright (C) 2016-2018 by Xose Pérez
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