About

This repository is your go-to source for integrating digital light control and window shading systems into your smart home, using a Raspberry Pi and Pico-W. It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices through Apple HomeKit and Node-RED UI. It is a better alternative to the homebridge-tcp-smarthome project.

Ready to give your smart home an upgrade? Let's dive in!

Working procedure

The SmartHome.json flow in Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi enables the control of lights (connected through LMDI-100) and window blinds (connected via Mechonet) in a home automation setup. When an accessory is operated via Apple HomeKit or the Node-RED-UI website, Node-RED sends the command to the appropriate pseudo terminal (pty). These ptys are established by the PtyServer software, which connects to each Pico-W unit over TCP. Subsequently, the Pico-W relays these commands to the connected devices (LMDI or Mechonet) through RS232 communication. Node-RED displays the Pico-W responses in the Node-RED-UI for effective monitoring. Installing several Pico-W units in a building, all linked to the same WiFi network as the Raspberry Pi, enables centralized management of various devices.

Features

1. Accessories can be operated through either Apple HomeKit or Nodered-UI website.
2. It supports lights and window covering accessories.
3. Number of accessories can be configured.
4. Individual and all lights on/off control.
5. Individual lights brightness control from 0 to 100%.
6. Individual and all window blinds 5-level (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) covering.
7. Provides the status of blinds and lights.

Installation

• Install nodered on Raspberry-Pi by running this command on Pi's terminal.

  bash <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/node-red/linux-installers/master/deb/update-nodejs-and-nodered)

• Install nodered-red-dashboard and start the node-red service.

  cd ~/.node-red
  npm i node-red-dashboard
  node-red-restart
  sudo systemctl enable nodered.service
  node-red-start

• Refer NRCHKB to install HomeKit package on nodered.

Running the Setup

• Follow the instructions in import export flow to import SmartHome.json to the nodered.
• Follow the instructions in remote-serial-pico to setup the Pico-W.

Visual Overview

• Block diagram: (checkout detailed diagram)

• Writing commands to pty and reading responses from pty for each pico:

• Window blinds control flow: and its corresponding UI:

  

• light control buttons: and its corresponding UI:

  

• HomeKit accessories for Pico1:

• HomeKit accessories for Pico2: and its UI on iPad home:

  

Credits

Special thanks to Medical Informatics Engineering for their support throughout the development of this project, especially to Doug Horner for his invaluable guidance.