Home Assistant will be made available for Android Auto. This means that it will be possible to control smart devices from the dashboard of cars that support the app. The feature is currently in beta. It should become generally available within two weeks.
In the Home Assistant Android Auto app, it is possible, among other things, to operate the garage door, locks and lamps, the development team writes in a blog post. Clicking on a category displays all units within that category, including their status. For example, the garage door indicates whether it is ‘open’ or ‘closed’. With the push of a button it is then possible to either open or close the door.
It is also possible to navigate via the Home Assistant app to everything that has a location, such as smartphones from others and smart home devices. Finally, a ‘binary sensor’ has been added, which can detect whether the phone is connected to Android Auto. This makes it possible, for example, to automatically open the garage door without users having to press a button. The app is currently available in the beta channel of the Google Play Store. A stable version will be released within two weeks, the team promises.
In December Google released an update to Android Auto that added support for iot apps. According to the guidelines, such applications are allowed to add functions that allow users to switch smart home things on and off, or open and close them with the push of a button. It is not allowed to work with the app settings, such as adding routines, or with more specific controls while driving. This includes, for example, adjusting the thermostat, or the brightness level of lamps.
