Automating Firmware Updates Across a Heterogeneous Smart‑Home Device Fleet

Objective:

This Bachelor’s thesis assesses which devices in our large, mixed collection of smart‑home products (bulbs, door locks, smoke detectors, kitchen appliances, irrigation controllers, etc.) support firmware updates, determines whether each vendor exposes a usable API, and evaluates whether over‑the‑air (OTA) updates can be triggered automatically. Where feasible,  a proof‑of‑concept (PoC) updater for at least one supported device shall be built.

Potential Work Packages (not exhaustive):

• Device inventory & capability scan – catalogue all available devices and confirm the presence (or absence) of vendor‑supported firmware update mechanisms
• API & protocol analysis – collect documentation, sniff traffic where necessary, and map out update endpoints or companion‑app workflows
• Update feasibility matrix – classify devices by update method (local, cloud, BLE, MQTT, proprietary, etc.) and highlight blockers
• Automation design – outline a generic update workflow (authentication, version check, download, install, rollback handling)
• Proof of concept – implement and document an OTA update script/tool for at least one compatible device, demonstrating end‑to‑end automation
• Reporting – summarize findings, limitations, and practical recommendations for managing firmware updates at scale

Optional Extensions (depending on time and interest):

• Extend the PoC to additional device categories or vendors
• Build a small dashboard or command‑line tool that orchestrates updates across multiple devices
• Evaluate security aspects (credential storage, signed firmware verification, attack surface)
• Integrate the updater with an existing home‑automation platform (e.g., Home Assistant)
• Propose a lightweight patch‑management policy for mixed IoT environments

Note:

This topic is well-suited for students with an interest in IT security, embedded systems, and networked devices in real-world use cases. It is strongly recommended that students have prior experience with networking and embedded systems — for example, through successful completion of courses such as Embedded Systems Architecture. Basic familiarity with system-level analysis and protocol behavior will be beneficial. If you’re interested, please get in touch via e-mail to schedule a meeting where we can discuss the topic in more detail and align on the scope.