ACK Module Development Guidelines

The Alexa Connect Kit (ACK) Module solution enables you to connect your product to Alexa. ACK provides managed services, software, and tools for the ongoing development and management of your Alexa-connected products. To connect your device to the ACK managed services, you add the ACK module into your device. To connect your device to Alexa, you integrate the ACK Device SDK to your host microcontroller (HMCU) application.

ACK Module architecture overview

The following diagram shows the high-level components of an ACK-based smart device.

The diagram shows Alexa Service, ACK Managed services, ACK-based smart device, and the ACK console. — Components of an ACK-based smart device

Hardware components

An ACK-based device includes the following hardware components:

ACK module – An Amazon-managed hardware component that you integrate into your ACK-based device. This module runs the Amazon firmware that connects your device to the ACK managed services.It also communicates with the host microcontroller unit (HMCU) on your device over a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART). To get started, you can purchase the ACK module in a development kit and integrate it into your device. For more details about the ACK development kit, see Get the ACK Development Kit.
ACK HMCU – A microcontroller that runs your application logic on your ACK-based device. The HMCU interfaces with the ACK Module through code that you write using the ACK Device SDK. To get started, use an HCMU that meets the ACK minimum requirements or select from pre-integrated HMCU kits.

Software components

An ACK-based device includes the following software components:

Host microcontroller unit (HMCU) application – Software installed on your HMCU that runs your device-specific logic to govern device behavior. You create this application using the ACK Device SDK.
ACK Device SDK – An embedded C-language SDK that's developed by Amazon. The SDK contains tools, libraries, example apps and documentation for developers to build ACK Alexa-connected HMCU applications. For more details, see ACK Device SDK.
ACK module firmware – Firmware that's developed and managed by Amazon. The firmware is preprogrammed on the ACK module and is responsible for network connections and general device operation. New releases of this firmware are released periodically in the ACK developer console.

Steps to build an ACK-based product

The ACK module solution primarily targets device makers (OEMs). To build ACK-based products, you complete the following steps.

To sign up for ACK, contact Amazon about your project and include your vendor ID. Amazon assigns an ACK support engineer to your project.
Purchase an ACK module from an approved partner.
Purchase a host microcontroller unit (HMCU) that satisfies the ACK minimum requirements
Create a virtual product using the ACK developer console and add Alexa capabilities that reflect the desired functionality of your device.
Develop your HMCU application logic using the ACK Device SDK.
Provision your ACK module with your virtual product.
Manufacture your device.
Sell your device commercially.

Product development guidelines

To develop your ACK-based product, follow these guidelines.

To prototype your product, follow the recommendations in phase one to phase two.
To mass produce your product, follow the recommendations in phase one to phase five.

PHASE 1:
Product design

→

PHASE 2:
Prototype and develop

→

PHASE 3:
Testing and certification

→

PHASE 4:
Manufacturing

→

PHASE 5:
Launch

Before you start, review the following prerequisites for building the ACK module products: