Cheeko - Backend Overview
Cheeko is an AI companion for children (ages 3–16) running on ESP32 devices. This documentation covers all five backend and firmware components and their integration.
System Components
| Component | Language | Role |
|---|---|---|
| livekit-server | Python | AI voice agent — conversation, games, music/story playback |
| manager-api-node | Node.js / Express | REST API — device registry, OTA, config, content, analytics |
| manager-web | Vue.js | Admin dashboard for managing devices, users, models, and content |
| mqtt-gateway | Node.js | Protocol bridge: MQTT/UDP (ESP32) to LiveKit WebRTC |
| ESP32 Firmware | C++ / ESP-IDF | On-device client — state machine, audio pipeline, MQTT, RFID |
| Parent App | Flutter | iOS/Android app for parents — device setup, kid profiles, content |
High-Level Data Flow.
ESP32 Device ──MQTT/UDP──> mqtt-gateway ──WebSocket──> LiveKit Cloud
│ │
│ ▼
│ livekit-server
│ (AI Agent)
▼ │
manager-api-node (JS) <───────────────┘
│ (config, prompts, analytics)
▼
manager-web
(Admin Dashboard)
All device-to-server communication starts with the Manager API (OTA check and activation), then shifts to the MQTT Gateway for real-time voice protocol. The livekit-server AI agent reads configuration and prompts from the Manager API during session setup.
Service Ports
| Service | Port | Base Path |
|---|---|---|
| manager-api-node | 8002 | /toy |
| MQTT broker (EMQX) | 1883 | — |
| UDP audio channel | dynamic | — |
Quick Start
- For a full picture of how all services connect, see the Architecture Overview.
- For MQTT and UDP message contracts, see the Protocol Reference.
note
manager-api-node (Node.js/Express) is the backend API implementation, exposing all endpoints under /toy.