Aqara is adding support for over 50 new Matter device types, making it one of the complete sensible dwelling platforms by way of Matter assist, alongside Samsung SmartThings and Residence Assistant.
The corporate can be bringing advanced bridging to all its Matter controllers, permitting you to combine Aqara’s many superior automation options into any Matter-compatible sensible dwelling platform by way of scenes and triggers. This consists of Apple Residence, Amazon Alexa, and Google Residence. The brand new replace additionally permits you to bridge Matter units that aren’t but supported by a platform into these ecosystems.
The brand new Matter system sorts that may now connect with Aqara Matter controllers embody:
- Robotic vacuums
- Dimmable plugs
- Smoke and CO alarms
- Air high quality sensors
- Leak, freeze, and rain sensors
- Curtains and blinds
- Followers and air purifiers
- Air conditioners and warmth pumps
- Water valves and pumps
- Stress sensors
- Photo voltaic panels and battery storage
- Electrical automobile chargers
- Washing machines and dryers
- Fridges and freezers
- Cooktops, hoods, and kitchen surfaces
- Ovens and stoves
- Water heaters
- Video gamers and audio system
That is along with sensors, thermostats, switches, and lights, which have been already supported. Aqara says the replace will roll out with Aqara Residence model 5.1.9 and Matter Controller firmware model 4.3.5 later this month.
Aqara appears dedicated to creating its platform open and interoperable, stating that it believes interoperability is important to maneuver the sensible dwelling trade ahead. “By extending Matter assist, we intention to supply customers better flexibility and be certain that Aqara merchandise stay helpful throughout a variety of platforms,” stated Eugene You, CEO of Aqara.
Aqara has lengthy labored with all the foremost sensible dwelling platforms, together with Apple Residence, Amazon Alexa, Google Residence, and more recently SmartThings, and it’s now positioning itself as a central a part of the Matter sensible dwelling.
Aqara hubs work with its line of Zigbee-based sensible dwelling merchandise; a number of are additionally Thread border routers. The corporate says they’ve been optimized to assist Thread network sharing, which means they’ll be part of present Thread networks managed by Apple HomePods, Amazon Echos, or Google Nest hubs, for instance. Nonetheless, compatibility will depend upon these platforms’ implementation of Thread. This could assist present a stronger community for Thread sensible dwelling units.
“By extending Matter assist, we intention to supply customers better flexibility and be certain that Aqara merchandise stay helpful throughout a variety of platforms.”
Superior bridging, which was launched with the M3 hub earlier this year, will come to all present and upcoming Aqara Matter controllers, even the entry-level Hub M100. This brings two advantages. First, you possibly can bridge Matter units into platforms that don’t yet support that device type, and second, you need to use Aqara’s superior automation options and scenes in any Matter-compatible platform.
The latter potential implies that you need to use Aqara’s G4 Video Doorbell’s facial recognition characteristic as a set off in an Apple Residence automation that turns your lights on if you come dwelling. The facial recognition set off is added to Apple Residence as a digital “occupancy sensor,” in keeping with Aqara.
Different superior options that may be translated as both “digital occupancy sensors” or “digital plugs” embody package deal detection from a digital camera’s on-device AI, fall detection from Aqara FP2 mm-wave sensor, and automations triggered by a tool’s power utilization. Fingerprint sensing, gesture management, and presence sensing can all additionally translate, in keeping with Aqara.
This superior bridging characteristic isn’t native to the Matter spec, however is one thing a hub producer must develop. Residence Assistant has comparable capabilities that permit you to import its scenes, scripts, features, and different non-Matter-supported entities to connected platforms.
Aqara says superior bridging is basically a stopgap answer that permits customers to entry its full options in any Matter platform till (or if) Matter good points assist for these extra superior options.