SwitchBot

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Integrating SwitchBot’s smart home devices with Avicenna provides researchers with comprehensive environmental monitoring capabilities for behavioral and environmental research studies.

Supported SwitchBot Devices/Metrics in Avicenna

For each device below, we included the fields Avicenna will store. Also, all records include the common data fields.

WoIOSensor (Indoor/Outdoor Thermo-Hygrometer)

Download Sample Data

It is an IP65‑rated smart sensor that monitors temperature and humidity indoors or outdoors with real‑time app alerts and SwitchBot ecosystem integration.

  • Temperature: Measures ambient temperature, in Celsius (°C). Internally stored as temperature_celsius.
  • Relative Humidity: Measures relative humidity, in percentage (%). Internally stored as relative_humidity.
  • Absolute Humidity: Measures absolute humidity, in grams per cubic meter (g/m³). Internally stored as abs_humidity.
  • Dew Point Temperature: Calculates the dew point temperature, in Celsius (°C). Internally stored as dpt.
  • Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD): Measures the difference between the amount of moisture in the air and how much moisture the air can hold when it is saturated, expressed in kilopascals (kPa). Internally stored as vpd_kpa.

Data Collection Behavior

The SwitchBot WoIOSensor collects a new record of environmental data every minute, and syncs it with SwitchBot’s mobile app when the phone is in range through the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol. See the next sections for more details.

Adding SwitchBot As a Data Source

SwitchBot integration is implemented through File questions in surveys since the SwitchBot API only provides access to the most recent data point rather than historical data.

To add SwitchBot as a data source to your study, please contact our support team. Please provide the following information to the Avicenna support team:

  • Activity ID containing the File question
  • File question ID within that activity

Monitoring and Exporting SwitchBot Data

You can export and download the collected SwitchBot data using the Data Export page.

SwitchBot Data Source in Participant App

  1. Install the SwitchBot app: Android or iOS.

  2. Open the app and tap Sign in.

    Sign in
    Sign in1080×2400 134 KB

  3. If you already have an account, enter your email address and password. Otherwise, create a new account.

    Enter Email Address and Password
    Enter Email Address and Password1080×2400 117 KB

  4. After signing in, on the app’s Home page, tap the Add a Device button.

    Add Device
    Add Device1080×2400 115 KB

  5. On the devices list, search for “Outdoor Meter” and select it.

  6. Read the disclaimers and tap Next.

    Tap Next
    Tap Next1080×2400 176 KB

  7. Grant the app location permission and turn on GPS.

    Grant GPS Permission
    Grant GPS Permission1080×2400 158 KB

  8. Tap Add Meter.

    Tap Add Meter
    Tap Add Meter1080×2400 134 KB

  9. Pair the device with your phone following the on-screen instructions.

    Pair the Device
    Pair the Device1080×2400 142 KB

  10. Set a name and optionally assign a room for the device.

    Set Name and Room
    Set Name and Room1080×2400 158 KB

  11. A success page will appear once the device is paired successfully. The device will now appear on the Home page.

  12. To export data, tap on the device, then scroll down and tap Export Data.

    Export Data
    Export Data1080×2400 195 KB

  13. Select 1 min for Export every to export the full history, then set the Start time and End time.

    Select Every 1 Minute and Set Start and End Times
    Select Every 1 Minute and Set Start and End Times1080×2400 115 KB

  14. When your data export is ready, upload the exported CSV file through the designated File question in your survey.

  15. Data is automatically processed and integrated into the study dataset.