Chowmainsoft has joined the Josh.ai Developer Program and begun developing drivers for the Josh.ai ecosystem, with the first release being a certified driver for Somfy Power over Ethernet (PoE) motors.

The driver enables direct integration of Somfy’s PoE motorised shading systems with the Josh.ai platform, allowing control through touch, text and voice interfaces. Somfy’s PoE motors deliver both power and network communication through a single Ethernet cable, simplifying installation while allowing each motor to be individually addressable on the network.

Through the Chowmainsoft-developed driver, integrators can control Somfy PoE motors via IP within the Josh.ai platform. The integration supports automatic device discovery, automatic reconnection if devices drop off the network and individual shade control, including open, close, stop and position commands.

Group control is also supported, allowing multiple shades to be operated together, while preset positions can be triggered through the Josh.ai virtual keypad. The system also includes a ‘wink’ identification feature to help integrators quickly identify devices during installation and enables Somfy PoE shades to be incorporated into broader Josh.ai scenes and automation routines.

“We are pleased to officially join the Josh.ai developer program and begin delivering integrations that expand the ecosystem. Working with Somfy on the driver ensures tight integration between Somfy’s PoE motor platform and Josh.ai’s powerful AI and automation capabilities,” Chowmainsoft managing director Alan Chow says.