Hey everyone, I wanted to share an exciting project I recently completed—automating my motorized awning! 
It’s been a fantastic journey combining hardware hacking with smart home integration. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, especially if anyone else has tackled similar projects.So, here’s the setup: I have a manual awning, which I decided to upgrade to a motorized version. Instead of buying an expensive motorized unit, I opted for a DIY approach. I mounted a right-angle drill underneath the awning, connected it to a Wemos D1 Mini running custom ESPHome firmware, and integrated it all into Home Assistant. The goal was to automate the opening and closing based on weather conditions and sun position. The system is pretty straightforward. The Wemos controls the drill motor via some custom circuitry and an AC/DC power supply. I’ve added sensors for monitoring the awning’s position and plan to integrate a wind sensor for local weather response. Right now, I’m using regional weather forecasts, but I’d love to make it more precise with on-site sensors.Here’s what I’ve achieved so far:- Automatic closing when the sun dips below a certain angle.- Rain-based automation using regional weather data.- Plans to add solar power and battery backup to reduce reliance on the grid.I’ve also set up some basic automations in Home Assistant, like closing the awning when it rains or adjusting its position based on the sun’s angle. It’s been a great way to enhance my backyard experience without breaking the bank.I’d love to hear from anyone who has done something similar or has tips for improving my setup. Maybe someone has experience with wind sensors or solar integration? Also, I’m curious if others have tackled similar DIY projects and how they approached the automation side.If there’s interest, I can share more details about the circuitry and ESPHome configuration. It’s surprisingly simple once you break it down, but I’d hate to miss any gotchas others might have encountered.Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your insights! 