Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Appliances Device Types

[Luligu]

Hi,
since there is some interest about the new device types supported by some controllers like the RVC (Robotic Vacuum Cleaner) in the Home app, I opened this discussion so there is a single place to share about this topic.

The RVC is supported correctly by the Home app (all commands and clusters work) and also by Matterbridge with matter.js 0.13.0 that has Matter 1.4.

The bad news is that right now the Apple Home app only shows the RVC as a single device (not bridged) or as a single bridged device (only the RVC in the bridge). If the RVC is in a bridge with other devices, the whole Home app crashes... so don't try it. If your controller is Apple, put the RVC in the black list.

Starting with Matterbridge 3.1.1, a new mode has been added to the MatterbridgeEndpoint: 'server' or 'matter'. It can be used like workaround for this Apple Home Issue.

The latest (v.1.3.2) of matterbridge-example-dynamic-platform includes an RVC in mode server that can be paired to Apple Home without issues.

All appliances device types are supported by Matterbridge, but not all controllers show them correctly (Apple Home supports only Air Conditioner):

• Room Air Conditioner
• Laundry Washer
• Laundry Dryer
• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator
• Oven
• Microwave Oven
• Extractor Hood
• Cooktop

All screenshots and information here were taken with matterbridge@edge and matterbridge-example-dynamic-platform@edge.

The edge versions are no more in use for both matterbridge and the dynamic plugin. Please update both to the latest.

Join us on https://discord.gg/QX58CDe6hd.

[TillyMasters1]

Wow amazing,
Will the room selection work or will that come later?

[Luligu]

Wow amazing, Will the room selection work or will that come later?

You can join us on discord: https://discord.gg/QX58CDe6hd

[Luligu]

This is just an useful exercise to test and implement the nightly of matter.js with Matter 1.4...
It will also be useful for the iRobot plugin once also the other controllers will fully support the device type (at the moment they do not).

Sure I will test also the Service Area cluster even if it is optional in the rvc device type.

[Luligu]

Also supported on Smart Things:

[Luligu]

This is with Alexa:

[Luligu]

With Home Assistance some interface issues but working:

[Luligu]

Hi @TillyMasters1
The RVC got updated with ServiceArea cluster too and relative behavior server.

[TillyMasters1]

Legendary

[Luligu]

The Dishwasher is completed with all clusters:

[Luligu]

The Laundry Washer too:

[Luligu]

The Laundry Dryer:

[Luligu]

A double Oven (top and bottom tag)

[Luligu]

A Microwave

[Luligu]

A double refrigerator (composed by a refrigerator and a freezer)

[Luligu]

A double cooktop (composed by a right cookSurface and a left cookSurface)

[thoukydides]

Right now it seems that Apple Home shows the RVC only like a single device (not bridged).

It mostly works for me as long as the RVC is the only endpoint added to the bridge. In that case the only real problem is that the Apple Home app uses Matterbridge's Device Basic Information cluster, ignoring the plugin’s own Bridged Device Basic Information cluster. Otherwise it shows and controls the RVC correctly (albeit with a few quirks that aren't related to the device being bridged).

Are you considering adding a Matterbridge mode (or plugin type) that exposes each plugin device as a separately paired node?

[Luligu]

Right now it seems that Apple Home shows the RVC only like a single device (not bridged).

It mostly works for me as long as the RVC is the only endpoint added to the bridge. In that case the only real problem is that the Apple Home app uses Matterbridge's Device Basic Information cluster, ignoring the plugin’s own Bridged Device Basic Information cluster. Otherwise it shows and controls the RVC correctly (albeit with a few quirks that aren't related to the device being bridged).

Are you considering adding a Matterbridge mode (or plugin type) that exposes each plugin device as a separately paired node?

Sure, that was my first idea. But is quite complex as you imagine.

[thoukydides]

Sure, that was my first idea. But is quite complex as you imagine.

Yes, I can see that it is a significant architecture change.

Unfortunately, I doubt whether Apple will be fixing support of bridged RVCs any time soon. Their current implementation is adequate for certified Matter devices, and they have a significant backlog of Matter device types to support in the Home app. I can't see them prioritising an enhancement that only affects non-certified projects like this.

It is reasonably easy to run a separate Matterbridge instance for each RVC, so maybe a simpler solution would be to have a single-device mode. This could let the plugin "own" the non-bridged Device Basic Information cluster, and fail any attempt to add more than one device. The Home app doesn't seem to be bothered by the actual endpoint composition, or the presence of Aggregator or Bridged Device Basic Information clusters, so cleaning those up to really look like a single device is a nice-to-have rather than being necessary.

[Luligu]

Actually Apple replied to my tickets...
I will let you know

[asbesto01]

Actually Apple replied to my tickets... I will let you know

Any news? Many thanks

[Luligu]

Nope...
and I doubt there will be.

One day they will fix... one day.

[thoukydides]

@Luligu Thank you for implementing the server mode. RVCs are now working perfectly in the Apple Home app with my matterbridge-aeg-robot and matterbridge-dyson-robot plugins, alongside other devices in the same Matterbridge instance, including full Siri voice control (which wasn’t working when the RVCs were bridged).

[Luligu]

Keep it under control cause there can be side effects (almost on frontend side) we still didn't see...
This is a totally new road...

[PatrickDollard]

Any chance of getting an iRobot plugin?

[Luligu]

Sure!

[PatrickDollard]

Amazing! Literally the only thing missing in my HomeKit setup.

[Luligu]

But first I will support hass rvc in hass plugin

[PatrickDollard]

No rush. Actual plugin development is just completely beyond my capabilities.

I reached out to the Homebridge-Roomba developer to see if they could port their plugin, but haven’t heard back.

[Luligu]

In a short period of time I will add rvc to Hass plugin so you can export all of them from hass to matter