KuhnSmart's USP Is an ESP8266-Based IoT USB Pass-Through Plug for Your Smart Home
Designed for Home Assistant, though also compatible with other ESP8266-capable IoT platforms, the UPS is a compact USB smart plug.
German Internet of Things (IoT) specialist KuhnSmart has launched a device designed to turn any USB-connected gadget smart — by running it through an Espressif ESP8266 microcontroller.
"Take for example decorative lights," KuhnSmart's anonymous founder writes. "I've got a few of them in my room, and I have to turn them off in order to sleep, but then the next day I have to turn them back on again if I want them too look nice. Wouldn't it be great for that to happen automatically each morning and evening? Or in combination with your smart home controlled room light? That's what the USP could be for."
Built as a pass-through USB dongle, the USP houses an Espressif ESP8266 microcontroller and an IRLML2502 single-channel MOSFET. Drawing its power via the USB input, the USP can toggle the output port on or off — while using the analog to digital converter (ADC) on the ESP to monitor supply voltage, too, while the board supports up to 3A at 5V or USB Power Delivery (PD) up to 9V.
"The USP is a device made to be used with your own software and will not try to keep you from modifying it," KuhnSmart explains. "You don't need to make an enclosure for it, because it comes in one, you won't require force or tricks to open it if you want to, because the case is held together by a robust slide in place lock, secured by a Philips-head screw."
"The thing that makes the USP special is its rather specific purpose of turning USB devices on and off, while being functional out of the box and documented transparently for you to do what you desire to do with it."
The boards are being sold through the KuhnSmart Tindie store at $25 each, including nylon-and-glass sintered housing; sample code for integrating the USP into Home Assistant via ESPHome is available on the KuhnSmart website.