The Alexa and Arduino Smart Home Challenge

Create the smart home gadget of the future

Total prize pool of $59,000

This contest is over! See all the winning entries. Want more chances to win prizes? Check out our active contests.

The challenge

UPDATE

Submit your project to get approved to be published and get your skill published in the Alexa app before the deadline using Alexa and any Arduino device and receive a $100 VISA gift card! This is a limited time offer, now until supplies last (100 cards).

Alexa is Amazon’s voice service and the brain behind millions of devices like the Amazon Echo. People use Alexa to control smart home devices millions of times each day. Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for anyone making interactive projects. In this contest, we’re inviting you to work with these industry leaders to envision and build the future of smart homes.

The Arduino community of makers - students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals - has gathered around this open-source platform, their contributions have added up to an incredible amount of accessible knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.

In this contest, Hackster has brought together Alexa and Arduino, a leader in open source hardware. We invite you to create a project that envisions the future of smart homes. Here are some potential ideas to get you started:

Room temperature automation

Personalized lighting control

Security and doorbell systems

Pet entertainment and nourishment

Garden control and management

Media streaming across devices

Monitoring just about everything

If you don't have an Amazon Alexa device, you can use Echosim.io to test your Alexa skills virtually. Use the Alexa Smart Home API to easily build capabilities, tap the self-service APIs, documentation, templates and code samples that get you on a rapid road to publishing Skills. Use the Alexa Voice Service to integrate Alexa into your product using the SDK, and the APIs.

Build and submit a project documenting your next generation smart home device
using Amazon Alexa and Arduino, and you'll win the chance to take your 
device to the next step. Through Dragon Innovation's certification process, we can help get your winning idea manufactured and ready for product 
development.

Heres what you can win:

Best Overall Alexa Smart Home Skill Winner: $14,000 cash, Kickstarter Package: promotional Video and Marketing Fund, Dragon Innovation Certification, a 60 minute Kickstarter coaching session (take your project to product)

Best Indoor Alexa Smart Home Skill & Gadget: $8,000 cash + 60 minute Kickstarter coaching

Best Outdoor Alexa Smart Home Skill & Gadget: $8,000 cash + 60 minute Kickstarter coaching

Wildcard Alexa Smart Home Skill & Gadget: $6,000 cash + 60 minute Kickstarter coaching

Best Alexa Voice Service Integration & Gadget: $8,000 + 60 minute Kickstarter coaching

*NOTE: Hackster fulfills cash prizes via PayPal only.

Timeline:

Project Submission Opens Nov 21, 2017 at 8:01 AM PT

Project Submission Deadline Feb 24, 2018 at 11:59 PM PT

Winners Announced Mar 15, 2018 at 11:55 PM PT

How Do I Enter?

Step 1: Register for the contest

Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign-in if already a member)

Step 2: Enter to win the grand prizes by building and submitting your project

Build your project using the Amazon Alexa Smart Home API, and/or Amazon Voice Service and any Arduino product

Submit your project by Feb 24, 2018 at 11:59 PM PT

A Few Resources:

Alexa Controlled LEDs Through Arduino Yún

Smart Home Skill API

Alexa Smart Home Dev Slack Channel

Getting Started with Alexa Voice Service (AVS)

Tips for a Successful Alexa Smart Home Skill Certification

Alexa Developer Forums

Winners will be announced on this page by Mar 15, 2018 at 11:55 PM PT . Good luck!

View section

Prizes

We are giving away tens of thousands of dollars in prizes to the top 5 projects! Our judges will pick the best qualifying 5 projects based on the judging criteria outlined in the rules section.