Voice for IoT (Android app)

[Javi]

Hi All!

I recently added an OpenSprinkler to my home after both my Insteon Sprinkler controllers (Ez Flora) malfunctioned, and I am very happy with the purchase. It is much easier to install and setup then other “connected” sprinkler controllers.

I built an android app for Chained Voice Control of Home Automation Hubs which supports the ISY-994i, Domoticz, tasker, EventGhost and as of this week OpenSprinkler. The addition of OpenSprinkler is in alpha test as of today but it appears to be very stable so I may release to production soon. I am looking for alpha tester, so please let me know if anyone is interested and I will add you to the alpha test list and provide a promo code for a free upgrade to the full version of the app.

The app has both a free (demo) and paid version. the free version has all the same capabilities as the paid version with 2 exceptions. First the demo version only allows 5 linked voice commands and second there is no backup available.

The following is a link to the video setup for Open Sprinkler. At about 2:11 into the setup is the first voice command, if anyone wants to see it in action and skip the setup.

https://youtu.be/IdQQw8bZwn4

Links to App
Demo: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.voiceforiot.voiceforiot.demo

Full: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.voiceforiot.voiceforiot

[Ray]

Cool. Thank you for sharing! The video is very informative and it’s great to see real time demos 🙂

[davethomaspilot]

Just what I want! I’m ready to give it a try.

How has the testing been going? Is it in production yet?

How will you charge for the paid version?

[davethomaspilot]

Never mind, I didn’t click the links. I see I can buy the paid version now. Doing that!

[davethomaspilot]

Easy setup and works great!

Is there a way I can use “Ok Google” then speak the command instead of having to open up the voiceforiot app?

I’m guessing I’m just ignorant of how that’s done?

[Javi]

Hi,

Thanks for trying the app! First let me mention there are a couple of bugs that should be fixed as soon as I have some time.

1) I updated Google Play services in the last update which broke Google Drive backup, I have a fix but it is taking the app (or Google) takes too long to realize when permission to access Google Drive have been revoked, which causes crashes. I have placed a button in the app to revoke this permission, so users do not have to let the app have permissions when it is not using Google Drive. Hopefully Google resolves this issue soon.

2) Android 8.1.0 broke the ability to read the current network BSSID (SSID of router). I have not had time to look into a fix, but will be doing so soon.

As for OK Google:

There are a few ways this can be done, If using Google Now the app integrates with the AutoVoice Tasker Plugin. If using Google Assistant it can be done using (IFTTT along with AutoRemote) OR (with a google assistant shortcut)

There are links to setup using IFTTT in the app. If using Google Assistant Shortcuts there are 2 launcher apps installed with Voice for IoT, One called “Voice for IoT” and one called “Voice Control for Voice for IoT”. All you would have to do is create a shortcut (for example “talk to my home” which has the Google Assistant “launch Voice Control for Voice for IoT”.

Please let me know if you need any assistance.

Best,
Javier

[davethomaspilot]

Thanks for the quick reply, Javier.

I was using the instructions on your website

for using IFTTT with Autoremote when I read your reply. I was to the point of getting the URL that was on my laptop to the Webhooks service.

All you would have to do is create a shortcut (for example “talk to my home” which has the Google Assistant “launch Voice Control for Voice for IoT

This sounds much simpler. Why wouldn’t I just do that rather than what’s documented on your website?

Can you point us to a tutorial for setting up setting up Google Assistant with a shortcut?

Thanks!

[davethomaspilot]

Maybe I can answer my own question.

So, if I just create a Google Assistant shortcut, I’d first have to say “launch Voice control…”, before issuing a command like “Turn on Pathway Lights”?

If that’s the case, I’ll continue down the path of setting up AutoRemote and IFTTT.

[davethomaspilot]

Do I have to set up the recipes on the Android phone(s) that will be running Google Assistant, or can I somehow do it on my pc?

It’s a bit of pain to use my fat finger to overwrite the variable part of the URL text that’s customized for each recipe.

[Javi]

You are correct, the shortcut method involves using a phrase to trigger the the Voice for IoT app’s get voice dialog.

The IFTTT method has a few advantages:

1) Direct commands
2) If an android device is left at the location with the hub(s) then google assistant commands can be triggered remotely. Such as using an old android device as a server.
3) Works with google home.

Disadvantages:
1) There can be a delay of a few seconds
2) A little more difficult to setup, and must purchase AutoRemote
3) This method may lock out other Google Assistant commands, such as any command starting with “turn”.

[Javi]

The IFTTT recipes are setup in the cloud, so they can be setup from a PC. The Voice for IoT app, Voice for IoT Bridge, and AutoRemote must be installed/updated/running on the android device

[davethomaspilot]

Doing the recipes on the PC is easy!

I think I’m almost there… I get a text message after saying “Ok, Google. Turn pathway lights on”:

Pathway lights on

But, the voice command wasn’t recognized.

When I say the same thing after clicking the microphone icon in the voiceforiot app, it corrects “turn pathway lights on” to “turn pathway_lights on”. This works.

So, I’m thinking I should just use “pathway” instead of “pathway lights”. Or, maybe figure out how why the same correction isn’t being done when I use Google Assistant and all the stuff in between it and voiceforiot app.

[davethomaspilot]

Even though I deleted (and deleted all) linked voice commands, I couldn’t set up a “pathway” instead of “pathway lights”. I kept getting complaints about it already being defined. I tried exiting the app and re-entering, but that didn’t fix it.

So, I just used “pool” instead. I tried

Turn on pool

and

Turn pool on

neither work from Ok google, but both work from the voice for IOT app. I get a message on the phone like Uknown: Text:<on pool>

Should I post any fix (or other issues) I find here, or on your website somehow?

Thanks!

[Javi]

Should I post any fix (or other issues) I find here, or on your website somehow?

Most of the other people are reporting issues on Google+ or direct email, but I have email alerts setup so any place works for me.

Even though I deleted (and deleted all) linked voice commands, I couldn’t set up a “pathway” instead of “pathway lights”. I kept getting complaints about it already being defined. I tried exiting the app and re-entering, but that didn’t fix it.

Did you “Update Bridge” after changing anything in the app? This is needed as some users may use AutoVoice/AutoRemote to trigger other tasker_tasks/apps so using the “Update Bridge” updates AutoVoice/AutoRemote with acceptable intercept commands.

[Javi]

But, the voice command wasn’t recognized.

When I say the same thing after clicking the microphone icon in the voiceforiot app, it corrects “turn pathway lights on” to “turn pathway_lights on”. This works.

So, I’m thinking I should just use “pathway” instead of “pathway lights”. Or, maybe figure out how why the same correction isn’t being done when I use Google Assistant and all the stuff in between it and voiceforiot app.

Also the Spoken Location should be “pathway” and the Spoken Device should be “lights”. In this way it will allow for many variations of the command such as “turn on the pathway lights” or “turn on the lights in the pathway”. As long as the app can pickup on both a Location (pathway), a device (light(s)) and an action (on), it will trigger the correct Linked command. This will also allow for commands to be chained with multiple locations (pathway, living_room, pool) or multiple devices (lights, fan, sprinkler).

Example of triggering multiple locations with the same device: Turn on the pathway and living room lights. (This will trigger 2 commands, pathway-lights and living_room-lights. Spoken_Location-Spoken_Device).
Example of triggering multiple devices at the same location: Turn on the dining room fan and lights. (This will trigger 2 commands, dining_room-lights and dining_room-fan).

[davethomaspilot]

Yes, I’d done the bridge update.

But, I just tried again. I’ve changed NOTHING since I tried a couple of hours ago, but now it’s working.

turn pool off

and

turn pool on

work fine!

No clue what was going on.

Previously, I’d uninstalled and re-installed the voice for iot app to get rid of the “pathway lights” and added pathway instead (it didn’t work). I’ll also add a location and try pathway again–in your tutorial you said a location wasn’t needed since there was only one “zone X”?

I have three unique OpenSprinkler Pis around the property that control irrigation zones. I also have three (soon to be six) Pi Zero W’s controlling an SSR for outdoor lighting automation.

I think each different Pi (url) should be a “hub”. Is that correct?
.

[davethomaspilot]

Got “turn on the pathway lights” and “turn off the pathway lights” working! Thanks!

Once the delay as several seconds. I’m testing by looking out the window at the lights to see if the command was received by OpenSprinkler. Perhaps I was looking away too soon when I testing before lunch and incorrectly concluded things weren’t working.

[Javi]

location wasn’t needed since there was only one “zone X”

This was mostly in reference to sprinklers using a unique zone name such as “zone 1”, “zone 2” …. as using “zone” as a Location and a number as a device may cause too many errors. There would also be a few other things where a Location is implied or there is only one of Device using a given name (such as Air_Conditioner, Coffee_Maker) which is why it can be optional. There is also the ability to set a Default Location (such as Living_Room) which will automatically be applied to your voice command if no location is given, this will not affect commands where the user specifically omitted a Location. Example: If Living_Room is set as default and I say “turn on the TV and turn off the lights” it will turn on the living room TV and turn off the living room lights.

I think each different Pi (url) should be a “hub”. Is that correct?

That is correct

Once the delay as several seconds. I’m testing by looking out the window at the lights to see if the command was received by OpenSprinkler. Perhaps I was looking away too soon when I testing before lunch and incorrectly concluded things weren’t working.

The delay is one of the downsides to using IFTTT, also the “Show dialog over lock screen” (found in the Bridge screen) may help improve speed especially if using with Google Home.

I use the widget if giving commands from my phone for instantaneous execution, and an old phone running AutoRemote which accepts the IFTTT commands from my Google Homes. I may try to build a direct link to the Google Assistant in the future, but my free time is limited now as we have young children.

Hopefully I will have an update to address a few UI issues, Google Drive backup and android 8.1.0 fixes within the next month. If you have any additional feature request or find any bugs please let me know.

Best,
Javier

[davethomaspilot]

Great stuff!

It’s working flawlessly now.

I was going to dig into a bunch of new stuff to try and figure out how to interface OpenSprinkler to Google Assistant. I’m so glad I searched these forums first!! I have no desire to re-invent the wheel.

One comment–you are charging way to little for your app. I’m sure I pretty sure I could figure out how to do it myself, but I’m equally sure it would have taken days (if not weeks) to get something working that would just be a tiny subset of what your app provides.

Thank you!

[Javi]

One comment–you are charging way to little for your app. I’m sure I pretty sure I could figure out how to do it myself, but I’m equally sure it would have taken days (if not weeks) to get something working that would just be a tiny subset of what your app provides.

Thank you!

Your Welcome and Thank you!

I am not trying to get rich off of the app it is just a side project I created for my own home, and maybe to pad my resume and ego. The project is in its second iteration on android, last iteration was free and I got too many feature requests and not enough gratitude or help.

[smithclarkson01]

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thanks for sharing it. Learned a lot!

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[johnsmith101]

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[Author]

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