Use SmartThings to make Alexa run a skill

[kcampbell]

Is it possible to make Alexa run a skill through ST? I have a “good night” routine setup in Alexa that will turn off lights, on fans, etc but then I have to ask Alexa again to “make it rain” which starts the Ambient Sounds skills and plays rain sounds through the Alexa speaker. Is there a way to only speak one command, “good night”, and everything will run, including the rain skill?

[kes601]

Routines for the Echo can be created through the Alex app. I would “assume” you could tell it to run your SmartThings routine and then start playing your ran sounds. I can’t test it myself, but here is how to make routines via Alexa:

Here’s how to set up a ‘Routine’ on your Amazon Alexa device

[Luther]

For now, I think you are out of luck. Two things standing in the way:

1. Alexa actions for routines are really, really limited … report weather, saying preselected things, playing your flash briefing, traffic report, or ask SmartThings to do something not security related. It is frustrating you can’t even ask Alexa to say something not on her list of phrases … such as, “Don’t forget to take out the garbage”. That’s got to be a growth area for Alexa as Amazon expands its smart home capabilities.
2. Alexa can command SmartThings but not vice-versa. Alexa has to be in the driver’s seat and originate the action based on something you say, or a scheduled time. Not input from SmartThings.

Probably the best you can do for now is to configure Alexa to not require saying the wake word for a new command if it comes right after another one. There, saved you one word.

[JDRoberts]

See the FAQ (this is a clickable link). The short answer is this cannot be done at the present time except by setting up a separate speaker device to speak the command that you want so echo can hear it.

FAQ: Can I trigger an Echo Action without Speaking to It?

Breaking News!!! As of August 2018, a SmartThings-connected Contact or Motion Sensor can now trigger an Amazon echo routine if you live in the US, Canada, or the UK !!! Amazon has now added the ability for some sensors to trigger an Amazon echo routine (not a smartthings routine), which does let you trigger other smart home devices which are not connected to SmartThings without having to speak an echo command! Or you can set it up so that your echo devices will speak a customized phrase, play a doorbell chime, or various other sound effects. And even better, that contact sensor can be a virtual contact sensor. And although it’s a bit tricky, a community member has created an edge driver that will create BOTH a virtual switch and a virtual sensor and keep the pair in synch. So…

[JDRoberts]

@kes601

Routines for the Echo can be created through the Alex app. I would “assume” you could tell it to run your SmartThings routine and then start playing your ran sounds. I can’t test it myself, but here is how to make routines via Alexa:

Unfortunately, It doesn’t work that way. As @Luther noted, Alexa’s routines are limited to very specific behavior categories right now, and that does not include invoking other Alexa skills.

Assumptions rarely turn out to be true in home automation. We all know how a Jetson house or a Star Trek computer should work, but current reality is a long way from that, and all the available systems have significant limitations that you often have to find in the footnotes.

[Ryan780]

I assume you are trying to use ST to command an Alexa integrated device that won’t integrate with ST? I thought the same thing when the Alexa routines came out. Unfortunately only Alexa can run Alexa routines.