Phase 1: Product Design

In this phase, you define your product experience. A successful product based on Alexa Connect Kit (ACK) is one that's easy for users to interact with by using natural voice control, an Alexa-enabled device screen, or the Alexa app. Use the following product design guidelines to make that sure interactions with your ACK-based product are as natural as possible.

PHASE 1:
Product design
→
PHASE 2:
Prototype and develop
→
PHASE 3:
Testing and certification
→
PHASE 4:
Manufacturing
→
PHASE 5:
Launch

Design your product experience

To define your product experience, you define user interactions for your device, choose the smart home capabilities, languages, and regions you want to support, and select hardware options, such as your ACK module and host microcontroller unit (HMCU).

Choosing the correct hardware for your device is critical to support selected ACK features. Make sure your hardware can sufficiently power your device, support relevant peripheral interfaces, and can run the correct version of the ACK Device SDK that you need.

For example, to power a smart bulb on and off, you can use the smart home PowerController interface. You might also decide to release your product only in the United States. To get started building your product, you purchased one of the supported Wi-Fi modules. You started your development with the ACK Device SDK that supports the necessary smart home capabilities you're looking for.

Key tasks

Define your product experience by completing the following tasks:

Choose an ACK module:

  • For prototyping and evaluation, purchase a ACK development kit, which contains an ACK module.
  • For mass-production you can purchase ACK modules separately.

Choose a HMCU:

  • For prototyping and evaluation, choose either:
    • An ACK development kit that comes with an ACK module and might include an HMCU (depending on which kit you choose).
    • A separate HMCU development kit to start prototyping on a production-ready platform.
  • For final-product development, either:
    • Purchase standalone HMCUs that pre-integrate the ACK Device SDK.
    • Purchase standalone HMCUs of your choice, which you port the ACK Device SDK. Make sure the HMCU you choose satisfies the ACK minimum requirements.

Exit criteria

  • Define your product experience.
  • Select the appropriate ACK module for your device and purchase ACK module samples or an ACK development kit for evaluation.
  • Select the appropriate HMCU for your device and purchase the relevant HMCU samples or an ACK development kit for evaluation.

In this section

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Last updated: Mar 07, 2025