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  1. Home
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  3. Hacking a Neato Robotics BotVac Connected

Hacking a Neato Robotics BotVac Connected

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  • enloE enlo

    This is the code I found in the app. there is also a selfsigned certificate, which probably matches the robot.
    So the reason why you can't make out anything useful in the traffic: It's SSL encrypted.

                HttpsURLConnection httpsURLConnection3 = (HttpsURLConnection) new URL(str2).openConnection();
                try {
                    if ("neatoProduction".contains("vorwerk")) {
                        httpsURLConnection3.setSSLSocketFactory(C0751h.m5821a(0));
                    }
                    httpsURLConnection3.setConnectTimeout(60000);
                    httpsURLConnection3.setReadTimeout(60000);
                    if (str.equals("GET") || str.equals("DELETE")) {
                        httpsURLConnection3.setDoOutput(false);
                    } else {
                        httpsURLConnection3.setDoOutput(true);
                    }
                    httpsURLConnection3.setRequestMethod(str);
                    String a = C0742a.m5803a(NeatoApplication.m5360a(), "ACCESS_TOKEN");
                    if (a != null) {
                        httpsURLConnection3.setRequestProperty("Authorization", "Token token=" + a);
                    }
                    httpsURLConnection3.setRequestProperty("Accept", "application/vnd.neato.beehive.v1+json");
                    httpsURLConnection3.setRequestProperty("Content-type", "application/json");
                    httpsURLConnection3.setRequestProperty("X-Agent", C0765b.m5864f());```
    Daniel ErikssonD Offline
    Daniel ErikssonD Offline
    Daniel Eriksson
    wrote on last edited by
    #36

    @enlo That there isn't the problem - if you read my above post the problem is generating the HMAC correctly. I have already proxied the traffic from the app - since they don't used pinned certifications

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • kangguruK Offline
      kangguruK Offline
      kangguru
      wrote on last edited by
      #37

      There's good news guys. I finally figured out how the HMAC signature is calculated and now i'm able to control the neato without the mobile application, which offers all kinds of new integration options.

      What can be found in com/neatorobotics/android/activities/robot/C0645j.java is just half of the truth and i was looking at this part for way to long, i'm not sure where this part is used. maybe this would be the part where one can communicate with the neato without making use of the cloudservice. who knows ;)

      The actual fun starts in com/neatorobotics/android/p040c/p042b/C0898b.java the code reveals that there are 3 ingredients making up the HMAC signature

      • the robot's serial number
      • the current date (as also found in the Date header)
      • the http body

      Together with the robot's secret key we're now able to properly sign the requests.

      I've packaged this in a small ruby library https://github.com/kangguru/botvac which is
      quite basic and just covers just a little more than i needed for my usecase
      but i'm happy to extend this over time.

      Especially the part to obtain the secret key for the robot just be done via
      trafic capturing, which is not the most convinent thing i can think of :)

      I hope this already helps some people to build new things around their robot. I've mixed the
      stuff with ifttt.com and now can plan the cleaning schedule via a google calendar, which
      makes it really convinent to skip single days in a given schedule, which ist kinda painful to
      solve with the mobile app.

      happy hacking

      UbiquitousU d96mbeD 2 Replies Last reply
      6
      • B Offline
        B Offline
        Brutus
        wrote on last edited by
        #38

        Thats good news Kangguru. Nice job.

        So maybe a noob question but How can I use this in my domotica program Domoticz running on Windows.
        I can use LUA, Curl, Batch as far is a know.

        Thnx for helping.

        1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • kangguruK kangguru

          There's good news guys. I finally figured out how the HMAC signature is calculated and now i'm able to control the neato without the mobile application, which offers all kinds of new integration options.

          What can be found in com/neatorobotics/android/activities/robot/C0645j.java is just half of the truth and i was looking at this part for way to long, i'm not sure where this part is used. maybe this would be the part where one can communicate with the neato without making use of the cloudservice. who knows ;)

          The actual fun starts in com/neatorobotics/android/p040c/p042b/C0898b.java the code reveals that there are 3 ingredients making up the HMAC signature

          • the robot's serial number
          • the current date (as also found in the Date header)
          • the http body

          Together with the robot's secret key we're now able to properly sign the requests.

          I've packaged this in a small ruby library https://github.com/kangguru/botvac which is
          quite basic and just covers just a little more than i needed for my usecase
          but i'm happy to extend this over time.

          Especially the part to obtain the secret key for the robot just be done via
          trafic capturing, which is not the most convinent thing i can think of :)

          I hope this already helps some people to build new things around their robot. I've mixed the
          stuff with ifttt.com and now can plan the cleaning schedule via a google calendar, which
          makes it really convinent to skip single days in a given schedule, which ist kinda painful to
          solve with the mobile app.

          happy hacking

          UbiquitousU Offline
          UbiquitousU Offline
          Ubiquitous
          wrote on last edited by
          #39

          @kangguru

          I also figured it out some time ago. You get the robot secret key and serial number when you log in to beehive.neatocloud.com and request https://beehive.neatocloud.com/dashboard
          I've written a powershell module where I exposed the entire api (as implemented in the android and iphone app), complete with login. I've yet to upload it to github but I can send it to you if you're unsure about the beehive part.

          B 1 Reply Last reply
          3
          • UbiquitousU Offline
            UbiquitousU Offline
            Ubiquitous
            wrote on last edited by
            #40

            As for replacing the cloud server, I don't think it's possible without rooting the robot. The first thing it does when it's connected to the internet is to start an HTTPS Comet session (long polling). The robot will kill the connection immediately if you try to MiTM it with a selfsigned certificate and there is no way to install new certificates on the robot. If anyone has opened the robot I'd be interested in pictures of the motherboard, especially of any pads labeled JTAG.

            RawLiquidR 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • UbiquitousU Ubiquitous

              @kangguru

              I also figured it out some time ago. You get the robot secret key and serial number when you log in to beehive.neatocloud.com and request https://beehive.neatocloud.com/dashboard
              I've written a powershell module where I exposed the entire api (as implemented in the android and iphone app), complete with login. I've yet to upload it to github but I can send it to you if you're unsure about the beehive part.

              B Offline
              B Offline
              Brutus
              wrote on last edited by Brutus
              #41

              @Ubiquitous

              Also nice job! Hope to see a link soon to github so we can experiment with this to.

              Thanks for the work.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • kangguruK Offline
                kangguruK Offline
                kangguru
                wrote on last edited by
                #42

                @Ubiquitous yea, i just was too lazy about the login stuff :) but i added the stuff over the weekend, to make it more "end"-user friendly.

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • kangguruK kangguru

                  There's good news guys. I finally figured out how the HMAC signature is calculated and now i'm able to control the neato without the mobile application, which offers all kinds of new integration options.

                  What can be found in com/neatorobotics/android/activities/robot/C0645j.java is just half of the truth and i was looking at this part for way to long, i'm not sure where this part is used. maybe this would be the part where one can communicate with the neato without making use of the cloudservice. who knows ;)

                  The actual fun starts in com/neatorobotics/android/p040c/p042b/C0898b.java the code reveals that there are 3 ingredients making up the HMAC signature

                  • the robot's serial number
                  • the current date (as also found in the Date header)
                  • the http body

                  Together with the robot's secret key we're now able to properly sign the requests.

                  I've packaged this in a small ruby library https://github.com/kangguru/botvac which is
                  quite basic and just covers just a little more than i needed for my usecase
                  but i'm happy to extend this over time.

                  Especially the part to obtain the secret key for the robot just be done via
                  trafic capturing, which is not the most convinent thing i can think of :)

                  I hope this already helps some people to build new things around their robot. I've mixed the
                  stuff with ifttt.com and now can plan the cleaning schedule via a google calendar, which
                  makes it really convinent to skip single days in a given schedule, which ist kinda painful to
                  solve with the mobile app.

                  happy hacking

                  d96mbeD Offline
                  d96mbeD Offline
                  d96mbe
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #43

                  @kangguru I have not done any ruby before and I'm stuck trying to use the gem. I think I've managed to install Ruby, devkit and Git (and added git.exe to path which is needed to be able to 'bundle install'). I don't see any errors, but I am unable to find any binary named botvac to run. I've run "gem env" and none of the variables seems strange.

                  Any suggestions? I'm on Windows 10 btw.

                  BR / M

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • korttomaK Offline
                    korttomaK Offline
                    korttoma
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #44

                    FYI, a friend of mine has created a PHP library for the Neato cloud service -> https://github.com/tomrosenback/botvac

                    It is based on the work @kangguru has done.

                    • Tomas
                    d96mbeD 1 Reply Last reply
                    1
                    • korttomaK korttoma

                      FYI, a friend of mine has created a PHP library for the Neato cloud service -> https://github.com/tomrosenback/botvac

                      It is based on the work @kangguru has done.

                      d96mbeD Offline
                      d96mbeD Offline
                      d96mbe
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #45

                      @korttoma Works like a charm. Used PHP CLI on Windows 10. You have to enable extensions; php_curl and php_openssl in php.ini.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Jonathan8301J Offline
                        Jonathan8301J Offline
                        Jonathan8301
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #46

                        The PHP API Works great for me. I have two questions though.

                        1. The [isCharging] value in the [details] array of the State JSON is always empty, even when it is clearly charging i.e. the [charge] value changes. Any Idea why?
                        2. Whenever I call the pause cleaning, and then return to base, the robot will go back to its base, but it will not dock with it, is there any particular reason for this? and is there a way to have it return to the dock, and actually dock and charge with out just letting run through the entire cleaning cycle?
                        RawLiquidR 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • Jonathan8301J Jonathan8301

                          The PHP API Works great for me. I have two questions though.

                          1. The [isCharging] value in the [details] array of the State JSON is always empty, even when it is clearly charging i.e. the [charge] value changes. Any Idea why?
                          2. Whenever I call the pause cleaning, and then return to base, the robot will go back to its base, but it will not dock with it, is there any particular reason for this? and is there a way to have it return to the dock, and actually dock and charge with out just letting run through the entire cleaning cycle?
                          RawLiquidR Offline
                          RawLiquidR Offline
                          RawLiquid
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #47

                          @Jonathan8301
                          You know, I've had that happen once or twice before I even found this page, but when I just tried it out, my botvac did dock properly.

                          I just wish there were some way to get at the lower level sensor readings through this, I'd love to be able to see the 'map' that it builds when it cleans....

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • UbiquitousU Ubiquitous

                            As for replacing the cloud server, I don't think it's possible without rooting the robot. The first thing it does when it's connected to the internet is to start an HTTPS Comet session (long polling). The robot will kill the connection immediately if you try to MiTM it with a selfsigned certificate and there is no way to install new certificates on the robot. If anyone has opened the robot I'd be interested in pictures of the motherboard, especially of any pads labeled JTAG.

                            RawLiquidR Offline
                            RawLiquidR Offline
                            RawLiquid
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #48

                            @Ubiquitous
                            I have plans to open up my D80 the day that the warrantee is up, not sure if that will or won't help you any...

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • Jonathan8301J Offline
                              Jonathan8301J Offline
                              Jonathan8301
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #49

                              Hmm it almost sounds like the Botvac could go for a firmware update, unfortunately it looks like Neato's post launch product support is severely lacking

                              RawLiquidR 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Jonathan8301J Jonathan8301

                                Hmm it almost sounds like the Botvac could go for a firmware update, unfortunately it looks like Neato's post launch product support is severely lacking

                                RawLiquidR Offline
                                RawLiquidR Offline
                                RawLiquid
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #50

                                @Jonathan8301
                                Funny thing is, before the connected was launched, I remember being able to find an API document and programming info for interfacing with the lower models...NOW, I can't so much as even find any page that contains a link to anything resembling an update file or api documentation...

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • korttomaK Offline
                                  korttomaK Offline
                                  korttoma
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #51

                                  @RawLiquid So you are looking for this -> https://www.neatorobotics.com/resources/programmersmanual_20140305.pdf

                                  Or something else?

                                  • Tomas
                                  RawLiquidR 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • korttomaK korttoma

                                    @RawLiquid So you are looking for this -> https://www.neatorobotics.com/resources/programmersmanual_20140305.pdf

                                    Or something else?

                                    RawLiquidR Offline
                                    RawLiquidR Offline
                                    RawLiquid
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #52

                                    @korttoma actually, I already had that very document, and that is the one I was referring to. I might suggest keeping mentions of the exact url fairly low, It's likely an oversight that it's available still and if so, likely to be removed if they notice it. maybe use bitly to reference it instead...
                                    I don't know what exactly changed within the company to cause such a drastic shift, but it's obvious that something changed....

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • jcolterJ Offline
                                      jcolterJ Offline
                                      jcolter
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #53

                                      Did anyone ever get this working with the Vera?

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • robertoR Offline
                                        robertoR Offline
                                        roberto
                                        wrote on last edited by roberto
                                        #54

                                        Hello hackers!
                                        Let me introduce myself, I am Roberto Ostinelli, Neato Robotics' Director of Cloud Services.

                                        I'm impressed with the work that you've put into integrating with our robots! Great job!

                                        Given the interest we've seen on this and other forums, we've listened and have just released the Neato Developer Network, which might hopefully be of interest for some of you here.
                                        You can become a developer with just your Neato account from here:
                                        https://developers.neatorobotics.com

                                        You will find official documentation and SDKs for JavaScript, iOS and Android (for now, we plan on expanding to other languages too!).
                                        Simply put, as a developer you can create your own OAuth apps that interacts with Neato robots.

                                        A demo of what you can achieve with the JavaScript SDK can be seen here (just login with your Neato account when requested):
                                        https://developers.neatorobotics.com/demo/sdk-js

                                        Please note that all of this is in Beta, we're a small team but are doing our best!

                                        Cheers,
                                        r.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        5
                                        • korttomaK Offline
                                          korttomaK Offline
                                          korttoma
                                          Hero Member
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #55

                                          @roberto

                                          Thanks for finally acknowledging the fact that some people want to integrate their robotic vacuum cleaner with the rest of their smart home functionality.

                                          Is your Neato Developer Network investment only targeting the new Neato Connected series and future versions or is there a communication module in the pipeline for older models like my Neato botvac 85?

                                          • Tomas
                                          robertoR 1 Reply Last reply
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