Design and Implementation of a Modular Smart Home System Using ESP32 and Apple HomeKit Integration

This paper presents a modular smart home system integrating ESP32 microcontrollers with Apple HomeKit ecosystem to address scalability and data retention challenges in residential IoT deployments. The proposed solution employs the HomeSpan library for HomeKit-Compatible accessories, enabling secure local communication while maintaining compatibility with Apple's Home application. The key scientific contribution lies in the hybrid architecture combining real-time HomeKit control with a dedicated REST API server featuring SSL encryption and API-key authentication for historical data collection. The system addresses Apple Home app's limitation of lacking data retention capabilities through automated 5-minute data transmission intervals to a secure MariaDB database. Performance evaluation demonstrates stable operation across multiple sensor types (DHT22, PIR motion sensors) and actuators with modular deployment flexibility. Comparative analysis shows improved data persistence and analytics capabilities over standard HomeKit implementations while maintaining the security benefits of local communication protocols. The implementation achieves practical IoT deployment suitable for residential environments with enhanced comfort, safety, and energy efficiency monitoring capabilities.