Let There Be Light

This project uses a Raspberry Pi, Google Home, and IFTTT, as well as handmade hardware, to automate the opening and closing of curtains/blinds as a smart home application.

Cloning the repository and running the software
IFTTT Integration
Hardware Dependencies
Online Resources
Hardware Build

Cloning the repository and running the software

Ensure you have installed node.js on your device. It is available from https://nodejs.org/en/download/
Fork or clone this repository onto your device.
In the console, run npm install to install the required components.
In app.js, change PASS = to your chosen password
Run npm start or node app.js to launch the server

When you make a GET or POST request to the server, use the structure: http://ipaddress/api/<command>?password=<yourpassword>

where <command> = open or close

IFTTT Integration

This project can be operated by making GET requests in a web browser to the server, for example if a Google Home device is not available. However, the project works much better as a smart home application using a Google Home device and IFTTT.

To set up IFTTT triggers:

Go to IFTTT.com and create an account if you don’t have one
Go to IFTTT.com/create
Click the +This in If +This Then That
Search for and select Google Assistant. You will be required to connect your Google account if you haven’t before
Select Say a simple phrase
Fill in the fields as follows, adjusting as you see desire:
- What do you want to say = Open the curtains
- What do you want the Assistant to say in response? = Okay. Opening the curtains
Click Create Trigger, then click the +That in If This Then +That
Search for and select Webhooks, and then Make a web request
Fill in the fields as follows, adjusting as you see desire:
- URL = http://ipaddress/api/open?password=<yourpassword>
- Method = GET or POST
- Content Type = text/plain
Click Create Action, then Finish
Repeat the same process from step 2 with the following adjustments:
- In step 6 change open to close and opening to closing
- In step 9, set the URL = http://ipaddress/api/close?password=<yourpassword>

You should now be able to issue voice commands to a Google Home/Google Assistant device and web requests will be made automatically to your server.

Hardware Dependencies

This project uses:

A Google Home
A Raspberry Pi (I used a Pi Zero W running Raspbian, any RPi with WiFi capability should work)
Prototyping Breadboard
6V DC Motor
L293D H-Bridge Motor Driver
Jumper wires
4xAA battery pack
Handmade motor wheel
Curtains/blinds with bobbly pull cord

Online Resources

This project is inspired by and based on krpeacock’s google_home_starter project
- The instructable for his project can be found at https://www.instructables.com/id/Google-Home-Raspberry-Pi-Power-Strip/
- The GitHub page for his project can be found at https://github.com/krpeacock/google_home_starter
- Credit to Kyle Peacock for the IFTTT integration and original Software design
Circuit design for RPi motor control based on tutorial at https://business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/controlling-dc-motors-using-python-with-a-raspberry-pi--cms-20051
Datasheet I used for the L293D Motor Driver can be found at https://static.rapidonline.com/pdf/82-0192.pdf
Node.js can be downloaded from nodejs.org/en/download and documentation can be found at nodejs.org/en/docs
IFTTT website at IFTTT.com
Raspberry Pi Zero GPIO Diagram:

Hardware Build

This project depends on handmade hardware to perform the physical action of opening curtains/blinds.

The hardware is shown below, with jumper wires from the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO pins to the L293D on the prototyping breadboard, and wires from the L293D to the motor.