Secure home automation system based on ESP-NOW mesh network, MQTT and Home Assistant platform

Domotics allows for the control and monitoring of interconnected electronic devices in a home through effective communication protocols within an Internet of Things (IoT) architecture. To achieve proper functionality, it is necessary to ensure the communication and security of the IoT devices that make up the network, which are the main challenges faced by domotic systems. In this context, we have developed an algorithm that allows for the creation of a secure mesh network using the ESP-NOW communication protocol, with data encryption on the mesh network. The algorithm has been implemented and evaluated using low-cost commercial IoT devices and integrated through a secure MQTT Broker with the Home Assistant domotic platform. Tests carried out in a real environment on the proposed domotic system indicate that the network is fast and stable, with an overall average latency of 75 ms and an overall average packet loss rate of 9.25%.