Controlling RGB light via alexa and particle

I have attended Alexa Hackathon in Phoenix. Along with Alexa, Drew Alden introduced me Particle and iftt.com. I found it very useful and powerful, hence I have decided to do a sample project using the skills I learned in the hackathon.

This project has 2 parts.

• Connecting RGB with Particle

• Integrating Alexa with Particle

1. Connecting RGB with particle:

I have used following code in Particle and tested the code by using the following simple CURL:

https://api.particle.io/v1/devices/<YOUR-DEVICE-ID>/ctrlled -d access_token=<YOUR-ACCESS-TOKEN> -d "args= green"

int led1 = D0; // BLUE  
int led3 = D1; // GREEN
int led2 = D2; //RED
int controlled(String strPin){
   Serial.println();
   Serial.print("argument: ");
   Serial.println(strPin);
    Spark.publish("args",strPin);
   if(strPin.equalsIgnoreCase("RED")){
        digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
 digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
 digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
   }
   else if(strPin.equalsIgnoreCase("GREEN")){
       digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
 digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
 digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
   }else if(strPin.equalsIgnoreCase("BLUE")){
       
         digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
 digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
 digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
       
   }       
   else{
         digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
 digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
 digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
   }
   
  return 1;
}
void setup() {
   Serial.begin(115200);
 pinMode(led1, OUTPUT);
 pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(led3, OUTPUT);
   
   Particle.function("ctrlled", controlled);
}
void loop() {
   delay(1000);
}

Once everything is working with Particle, I started integrating Alexa.

2. Alexa Configuration:

I have created following intent schema for possible color options.

{
 "intents": [
   {
     "intent": "ParticleIntent",
     "slots": [
       {
         "name": "light",
         "type": "LIST_OF_ANSWERS"
       }
     ]
   },
   {
     "intent": "HelpIntent",
     "slots": []
   }
 ]
}

I have given following values for LIST_OF_ANSWERS

GREEN | RED | BLUE

Sample utterance for Alexa:

ParticleIntent turn on {light} light
ParticleIntent switch on {light} light
ParticleIntent turn on {light}
ParticleIntent switch on {light}
ParticleIntent {light} 
ParticleIntent {light} light on
HelpIntent help
HelpIntent help me
HelpIntent what can I ask you
HelpIntent get help
HelpIntent to help
HelpIntent to help me
HelpIntent what can you do
HelpIntent what do you do
HelpIntent how do I use you
HelpIntent how can I use you
HelpIntent what can you tell me

Complete code for integrating Alexa and Particle:

https://github.com/selvakumarvr/alexaparticleRGB/blob/master/Alexa/src/index.js

Learning:

This is my first project using Alexa and Particle and I have learned lots of things about Particle as well as Alexa. Initially I have tested with Particle with URL Query string but it didn't work and finally I came to know that query string won't work and it require POST parameter. Then I have decided to test with Postman chrome plugin. But it didn't work. The only way useful and easy was using CURL. CURL is so powerful.

I have also setup Alexa in RaspberryPI and connected to big amplified speaker with push button. Now my daughters are using it everyday for lots of funny questions.