"Matter" on ESP32 Demo #matter #accessory

Summary

Apple's WWDC 2022 introduced Matter, a unified smart home standard supported by major tech companies, which operates on IP protocol and can use technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, and Thread. The script discusses creating a Matter accessory with ESP32, enabling DIY hardware to connect with HomeKit or other platforms, and demonstrates a basic demo using CHIPTool and an iPhone to control an LED's on/off state, hinting at the potential for more complex home automation projects.

Takeaways

• 📱 Apple announced support for Matter, a new smart home standard, at WWDC 2022, though its integration has been delayed.
• 🌐 Matter, formerly known as Project Connected Home over IP, is designed to unify smart home platforms using existing networking technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, and Thread.
• 🚀 Matter is built upon the IP protocol, allowing smart home devices to communicate via IP addresses, enhancing compatibility across different platforms.
• 🔧 The ESP32 microcontroller can be used to create Matter accessories, potentially allowing custom hardware to connect with Apple HomeKit and other smart home systems.
• 🛠️ The speaker plans to develop a Matter accessory using the ESP32, highlighting the potential for hobbyists to create their own smart home devices.
• 💡 An example provided involves using an ESP32 with a TFT LCD screen and an iPhone to control a light's on/off function through Matter.
• 📲 Matter accessories typically receive Wi-Fi credentials via BLE after scanning a QR code, similar to how HomeKit devices are set up.
• 📡 The Matter accessory requests necessary information from the client device upon connection, enabling communication and control.
• 🔄 The demo shows basic control of a light, illustrating the initial steps of creating a more complex smart home system.
• 🌍 Remote access to HomeKit devices, including Matter accessories, requires Apple's Home Bridge, such as an iPad, Apple TV, or HomePod.

Q & A

What is Matter, and why is it important for smart homes?

Matter is a new smart home standard backed by major companies like Apple. It aims to unify smart home platforms by using standard networking technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, and Thread. This allows Matter-certified devices to connect to your network and each other seamlessly, regardless of the platform.

How does Matter communicate with devices in a smart home setup?

Matter operates based on the IP protocol, which means that individual devices in a smart home setup have their own IP addresses. Devices communicate with each other using IP, ensuring a standardized and efficient communication method.

What is the role of the ESP32 in the context of Matter?

The ESP32 can be used to create Matter accessories, allowing hobbyists and developers to make their own smart devices that can connect to Apple's HomeKit or other smart home platforms. This enables custom hardware to be controlled by smart assistants like Siri or Alexa.

What are the basic steps to connect a Matter accessory to a network?

To connect a Matter accessory to a network, you typically scan a QR code provided by the manufacturer. This QR code allows you to enter the Wi-Fi credentials for the device. The accessory then connects to the network via BLE, obtains necessary information from the client device, and is ready for use.

What example project is demonstrated in the video?

The video demonstrates a basic project where an LED is controlled using an app. The project illustrates turning the light on and off through the app, showing the simplicity of controlling Matter accessories.

How can you remotely access Matter accessories through HomeKit?

To remotely access Matter accessories through HomeKit, you need Apple's Home Bridge, which could be an iPad, Apple TV 4th Gen, or HomePod. This bridge allows you to control your Matter devices from outside your home.

What tools and libraries were used in the video to set up the project?

The video used a Lolin32 lite and ILI9341 TFT LCD along with the CHIPTool app installed on an iPhone via Xcode. The code used for the project was sourced from the connectedhomeip's GitHub repository.

What is the significance of the 'light on and off' cluster in the project?

The 'light on and off' cluster serves as a basic example, similar to a 'Hello World' program. It demonstrates the fundamental operation of controlling a device through the Matter protocol, which is a small but essential step in understanding how to build more complex systems.

How does a Matter accessory obtain the necessary Wi-Fi credentials?

A Matter accessory obtains the necessary Wi-Fi credentials by scanning a QR code that contains the required information. This can be done through BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) after scanning the code, which allows the accessory to connect to the network.

What future developments are hinted at in the video?

The video suggests that more specific devices will be developed in future projects, and these will likely be showcased in upcoming videos. The presenter plans to create more Matter-based accessories and share these developments with the audience.