OpenClaw Is an Agent Runtime, Not an IoT Hub
You don't connect Apple Watch or most consumer IoT directly to OpenClaw. You connect them indirectly via a bridge—cloud → webhook → OpenClaw.
Here's the mental model that makes it all work.
The Key Insight
OpenClaw is an agent runtime, not an IoT hub.
It doesn't speak Bluetooth, Matter, Zigbee, or HomeKit directly. So the pattern is always:
Device → Vendor Cloud / Gateway → Webhook / API → OpenClaw Agent
Think event-driven, not device-driven.
Why This Architecture?
Classic IoT platforms try to be the hub: they pair with devices, manage protocols, poll sensors. That's a full-time job—and OpenClaw doesn't do it.
OpenClaw excels at something else: receiving events, correlating them, and making decisions. It's the brain, not the nervous system.
The device layer belongs below OpenClaw. Your job is to get events into OpenClaw, then let agents react.
Recommended Architecture (TL;DR)
[Devices]
↓
[Vendor Cloud / HA / App]
↓ (Webhook)
[OpenClaw]
↓
[Agents, workflows, decisions]
Once data hits OpenClaw, you can correlate events ("high HR + poor sleep → suggest lighter workout"), trigger agents ("sensor offline → open ticket"), automate decisions ("battery < 20% → notify + schedule recharge"), and combine sources (Apple Watch + calendar + weather + location).
What OpenClaw Should NOT Do (By Design)
- ❌ Bluetooth pairing
- ❌ Matter / HomeKit / Zigbee stacks
- ❌ Device provisioning
- ❌ Real-time sensor polling at millisecond scale
That belongs below OpenClaw. Keep the boundaries clear and the system stays simple.
Deploy with Clawctl
Run your webhook-powered IoT agents with Clawctl. Egress allowlists keep your agent talking only to trusted endpoints. Audit logs capture every event and decision.