Advanced Adaptive Lighting with Home Assistant

2025-01-25
ℹ️Note on the source

This blog post was automatically generated (and translated). It is based on the following original, which I selected for publication on this blog:
How I Use Home Assistant in 2025.

Advanced Adaptive Lighting with Home Assistant

Home automation enthusiasts often seek to enhance their living spaces with intelligent systems that adapt to their needs. One area ripe for customization is lighting, where adaptive solutions can synchronize with natural daylight patterns to promote well-being.

The Evolution of a Smart Home

Initially, users might find simple smart hubs adequate for controlling a few lights. However, as the number of devices and the complexity of automations increase, the limitations of basic setups become apparent. Performance bottlenecks, particularly with database management using SQLite, can necessitate a migration to more robust solutions like virtual machines with MySQL or InfluxDB.

Achieving Adaptive Lighting

Adaptive lighting, which adjusts color temperature and brightness throughout the day, is a significant enhancement. While older solutions like Flux exist, newer integrations available through community stores offer more sophisticated capabilities. However, challenges arise when managing numerous lights, particularly when integrations do not directly support light groups, requiring explicit configuration for each individual entity.

Even with devices from the same manufacturer, variations in features can necessitate separate configurations for different categories of lights. Despite the effort, the benefits of aligning lighting with circadian rhythms, through smooth transitions from warm to cool tones, are considerable.

AI-Assisted Configuration

The complexity of YAML configurations in Home Assistant can be daunting. AI coding assistants can alleviate this burden by automating tasks such as parsing lights, identifying bulb types, and generating updated YAML configurations. Such AI-driven assistance can significantly reduce the time and effort required to manage complex smart home setups.

Here's an example of a script for analyzing light capabilities:

import requests
import json
import os
from datetime import datetime

TOKEN = os.getenv("HA_TOKEN") # Set this to your long-lived access token (Bearer: <token>)

# Function to get entity state
def get_entity_state(entity_id):
 url = "http://localhost:8123/api/states/" + entity_id
 headers = {
 "Authorization": TOKEN,
 "content-type": "application/json",
 }

 response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
 if response.status_code == 200:
 return response.json()
 else:
 print(f"Error getting state for {entity_id}: {response.status_code}")
 return None

def get_all_lights():
 """Get all light entities from Home Assistant."""
 url = "http://localhost:8123/api/states"
 headers = {
 "Authorization": TOKEN,
 "content-type": "application/json",
 }

 response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
 if response.status_code == 200:
 entities = response.json()
 lights = []
 for entity in entities:
 entity_id = entity['entity_id']
 if entity_id.startswith('light.'):
 lights.append(entity_id)
 return sorted(lights)
 else:
 print(f"Error getting entities: {response.status_code}")
 return []

def get_adaptive_switch_state(name):
 switch_id = f"switch.adaptive_lighting_{name.lower()}"
 state = get_entity_state(switch_id)
 if state:
 print(f"Adaptive switch {switch_id} full state: {json.dumps(state, indent=2)}")
 return state

def check_light_capabilities(light_attrs, group_name, light_id, adaptive_config):
 """Check if light capabilities match adaptive lighting settings."""
 warnings = []

 # Check color temperature support
 if ('color_temp_kelvin' in adaptive_config and
 'supported_color_modes' in light_attrs and
 'color_temp' not in light_attrs['supported_color_modes']):
 warnings.append(f"WARNING: {light_id} in {group_name} group doesn't support color temperature, "
 f"but adaptive lighting is trying to set it. Supported modes: {light_attrs['supported_color_modes']}")

 # Check brightness support
 if ('brightness_pct' in adaptive_config and
 'supported_color_modes' in light_attrs and
 'brightness' not in light_attrs['supported_color_modes']):
 warnings.append(f"WARNING: {light_id} in {group_name} group doesn't support brightness, "
 f"but adaptive lighting is trying to set it. Supported modes: {light_attrs['supported_color_modes']}")

 return warnings

def analyze_current_state(lights, group_name):
 print(f"\n=== {group_name} Current State ===")
 print(f"Analyzing at: {datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}")

 # Get adaptive lighting switch state
 switch_state = get_adaptive_switch_state(group_name)
 adaptive_config = {}
 if switch_state:
 print(f"Adaptive Lighting Switch: {switch_state['state']}")
 print(f"Last changed: {switch_state.get('last_changed', 'unknown')}")
 print(f"Attributes: {json.dumps(switch_state.get('attributes', {}), indent=2)}")
 adaptive_config = switch_state.get('attributes', {})
 else:
 print("Adaptive Lighting Switch: Not found")

 now = datetime.now()
 current_time = now.strftime("%H:%M:%S")
 print(f"Current Time: {current_time}")

 # Track brightness statistics
 brightness_stats = {
 'min': float('inf'),
 'max': float('-inf'),
 'total': 0,
 'count': 0
 }

 # Group lights by capabilities
 light_types = {}
 capability_warnings = []

 for light in lights:
 state = get_entity_state(light)
 if not state:
 print(f"{light}: Not found or offline")
 continue

 attrs = state['attributes']
 status = []
 capabilities = []

 # Check capabilities against adaptive lighting settings
 if adaptive_config:
 warnings = check_light_capabilities(attrs, group_name, light, adaptive_config)
 capability_warnings.extend(warnings)

 # Basic state
 if state['state'] == 'on':
 if 'brightness' in attrs:
 brightness_pct = round((attrs['brightness'] / 255) * 100)
 status.append(f"brightness: {brightness_pct}%")
 # Update brightness statistics
 brightness_stats['min'] = min(brightness_stats['min'], brightness_pct)
 brightness_stats['max'] = max(brightness_stats['max'], brightness_pct)
 brightness_stats['total'] += brightness_pct
 brightness_stats['count'] += 1

 if 'color_temp_kelvin' in attrs:
 status.append(f"temp: {attrs['color_temp_kelvin']}K")
 elif 'color_temp' in attrs:
 status.append(f"mired: {attrs['color_temp']}")

 print(f"{light}: ON - {', '.join(status)}")
 else:
 print(f"{light}: OFF")

 # Detailed capabilities
 if 'supported_color_modes' in attrs:
 capabilities.append(f"modes:{attrs['supported_color_modes']}")
 if 'min_color_temp_kelvin' in attrs and 'max_color_temp_kelvin' in attrs:
 capabilities.append(f"temp:{attrs['min_color_temp_kelvin']}-{attrs['max_color_temp_kelvin']}")
 if 'supported_features' in attrs:
 capabilities.append(f"features:{attrs['supported_features']}")

 # Group by capabilities
 cap_key = ','.join(sorted(capabilities))
 if cap_key not in light_types:
 light_types[cap_key] = []
 light_types[cap_key].append(light)

 # Print capability warnings
 if capability_warnings:
 print("\n=== Capability Warnings ===")
 for warning in capability_warnings:
 print(warning)

 # Print brightness statistics
 if brightness_stats['count'] > 0:
 print(f"\n=== {group_name} Brightness Statistics ===")
 print(f"Minimum brightness: {brightness_stats['min']}%")
 print(f"Maximum brightness: {brightness_stats['max']}%")
 print(f"Average brightness: {brightness_stats['total'] / brightness_stats['count']:.1f}%")
 print(f"Number of lights on: {brightness_stats['count']}")

 # Print summary of light types
 print(f"\n=== {group_name} Light Types ===")
 for cap_key, lights in light_types.items():
 print(f"\nCapabilities: {cap_key}")
 print("Lights:")
 for light in lights:
 print(f" - {light}")

def group_lights_by_capability(lights):
 """Group lights by their capabilities."""
 color_temp_lights = []
 brightness_lights = []
 other_lights = []

 for light in lights:
 state = get_entity_state(light)
 if not state:
 continue

 attrs = state['attributes']
 if 'supported_color_modes' in attrs:
 if 'color_temp' in attrs['supported_color_modes']:
 color_temp_lights.append(light)
 elif 'brightness' in attrs['supported_color_modes']:
 brightness_lights.append(light)
 else:
 other_lights.append(light)
 else:
 other_lights.append(light)

 return {
 'Color Temperature': color_temp_lights,
 'Brightness Only': brightness_lights,
 'Other': other_lights
 }

# Main execution
if   name   == "  main  ":
 all_lights = get_all_lights()
 print("\n=== All Lights Analysis ===")
 print(f"Found {len(all_lights)} lights in total")

 # Group lights by capability
 grouped_lights = group_lights_by_capability(all_lights)

 # Analyze each capability group
 for group_name, lights in grouped_lights.items():
 if lights: # Only analyze groups that have lights
 analyze_current_state(lights, group_name)

Optimized Adaptive Lighting Configurations

Optimized configurations for different bulb types are crucial for smooth transitions and consistent visibility. Here are some recommended settings for IKEA bulbs:

IKEA LED bulb GU10 345 lumen:

- name: adapt_brightness_standard_color_temp
 lights:
 - light.light_1
 - light.light_2
 min_brightness: 50
 max_brightness: 100
 min_color_temp: 2202
 max_color_temp: 4000
 sleep_brightness: 1
 sleep_color_temp: 2202
 transition: 45
 interval: 90
 initial_transition: 1
 prefer_rgb_color: false

IKEA LED bulb E27 806 lumen:

- name: adapt_brightness_extended_color_temp
 lights:
 - light.light_3
 - light.light_4
 min_brightness: 70
 max_brightness: 100
 min_color_temp: 2000
 max_color_temp: 6535
 sleep_brightness: 1
 sleep_color_temp: 2000
 transition: 45
 interval: 90
 initial_transition: 1
 prefer_rgb_color: false

IKEA LED bulb GU10 345 lumen (warm white):

- name: adapt_brightness_brightness_only
 lights:
 - light.light_5
 - light.light_6
 min_brightness: 50
 max_brightness: 100
 sleep_brightness: 1
 transition: 45
 interval: 90
 initial_transition: 1

Future Smart Home Enhancements

Beyond lighting, advancements in smart home technology are continually expanding. One notable area is temperature control, where Zigbee-based smart thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) offer granular, room-by-room regulation. This approach addresses the common problem of uneven heating in older homes, potentially leading to significant improvements in comfort and energy efficiency.

Conclusion

Adaptive lighting represents a significant step toward creating more responsive and human-centric smart homes. The integration of AI tools further streamlines the management of complex configurations, allowing enthusiasts to focus on optimizing their environments. As technology advances, the potential for creating personalized and efficient living spaces continues to grow. What further innovations might redefine the smart home experience in the future?


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