Building voice kit hardware using AI

Introduction

The AIY Voice Kit from Google lets you build your own natural language processor and connect it to the Google Assistant or Cloud Speech-to-Text service, allowing you to ask questions and issue voice commands to your programs. All of this fits in a handy little cardboard cube, powered by a Raspberry Pi.

Everything you need is provided in the kit, including the Raspberry Pi.

Meet your kit

The following instructions show you how to assemble your AIY Voice Kit, connect to it, and run the Google Assistant demo, which turns your kit into a voice assistant that responds to your questions and commands.

Then you can try some other sample code or use the Google Cloud Speech-to-Text service, which converts spoken commands into text you can use to trigger actions in your code.

Time required to build: 1.5 hours

Check your kit version

These instructions are for Voice Kit 2.0. Check your kit version by looking on the back of the white box sleeve in the bottom-left corner.

If it says version 2.0, proceed ahead! If it doesn’t have a version number, follow the assembly instructions for the earlier version.

 

GATHER ADDITIONAL ITEMS

You’ll need some additional things, not included with your kit, to build it:

  • 2mm flat screwdriver: For tightening the screw terminals
  • Micro USB power supply: The best option is to use a USB Power supply that can provide 2.1 Amps of power via micro-USB B connector. The second-best choice is to use a phone charger that also provides 2.1A of power (sometimes called a fast charger). Don’t try to power your Raspberry Pi from your computer. It will not be able to provide enough power and it may corrupt the SD card, causing boot failures or other errors.
  • Wi-Fi connection

Below are two different options to connect to your kit to Wi-Fi, so that you can communicate with it wirelessly.

OPTION 1: USE THE AIY PROJECTS APP

Choose this option if you have access to an Android smartphone and a separate computer.

You’ll need:

  • Android smartphone
  • Windows, Mac, or Linux computer

OPTION 2: USE A MONITOR, MOUSE, AND KEYBOARD

Choose this option if you don’t have access to an Android smartphone.

You’ll need:

  • Windows, Mac, or Linux computer
  • Mouse
  • Keyboard
  • Monitor or TV (any size will work) with a HDMI input
  • Normal-sized HDMI cable and mini HDMI adapter
  • Adapter to attach your mouse and keyboard to the kit. Below are two different options.

Adapter option A: USB On-the-go (OTG) adapter cable to convert the Raspberry Pi USB micro port to a normal-sized USB port. You can then use a keyboard/mouse combo that requires only one USB port.

Adapter option B: Micro USB Hub that provides multiple USB ports to connect to any traditional keyboard and mouse.

List of materials

 

IN YOUR KIT

  1.  Voice Bonnet(×1)
  2.  Raspberry Pi Zero WH(×1)
  3.  Speaker(×1)
  4.  Micro SD card(×1)
  5.  Push button(×1)
  6.  Button nut(×1)
  7.  Button harness(×1)
  8.  Standoffs(×2)
  9.  Micro USB cable(×1)
  10.  Speaker box cardboard(×1)
  11.  Internal frame cardboard(×1)

FOLD THE INTERNAL FRAME

Orient the frame

Let’s start by folding the internal frame, which will hold the electrical hardware inside the box.

Lay the frame on the table in front of you like the photo. The left slit should be closer to the cardboard edge.  Building voice kit hardware using AI 1

Fold long flap

Fold the long flap away from you and downwards along the two creases.

Building voice kit hardware using AI 2

Fold left and right flaps

Fold the two highlighted flaps toward you.

Building voice kit hardware using AI 3

Fold the bottom flap

Fold the bottom flap upward toward youBuilding voice kit hardware using AI 4

Align the bottom

The slits on the bottom flap will align with two notches.Building voice kit hardware using AI 5

Insert the notches

Insert the notches into the slits.Building voice kit hardware using AI 6

Check frame alignment

Look at the bottom of your frame. The slit closer to the edge should be on the left.

If yours looks different, you probably folded the frame the wrong way. Unfold it and check step 1 in fold the internal frame.Building voice kit hardware using AI 7

Set the frame aside

The internal frame is built. Set it aside for now; we’ll need in the next phase.Building voice kit hardware using AI 8

CONNECT THE BOARDS

Gather your boards and speaker

Now it’s time to connect all the electrical hardware together. Gather your:

  • Raspberry Pi
  • Voice Bonnet board
  • Standoffs (x2)
  • SpeakerBuilding voice kit hardware using AI 9

    Orient your Raspberry Pi

    Find your the Raspberry Pi board and orient it so that the 40-pin header is on the left edge of the board, like the photo.

  • WARNING: First make sure your Raspberry Pi is disconnected from any power source and other components. Failure to do so may result in electric shock, serious injury, death, fire or damage to your board or other components and equipment.Building voice kit hardware using AI 10

    Insert standoffs

    Holding the board in your hand, insert the standoffs into the holes on the right edge of the board, opposite the header.

    It will take a firm push to get the standoffs to click in, so you should support the board from underneath so it doesn’t bend too much.

    It’s always best to hold the board by the edges (not by the top and bottom surfaces).Building voice kit hardware using AI 11

    Connect the boards

    Grab your Voice Bonnet board. It has a header connector on the bottom of the board.

    Align the header connector with the pin header on the Raspberry Pi, then press down to connect the headers. Firmly push on the other side of the Voice Bonnet to snap the standoffs into place. Push near the standoffs, not in the center of the board.Building voice kit hardware using AI 12

    Check connections

    Make sure the standoffs have snapped into the boards and that the 40-pin header is pushed all the way down so that there is no gap between the two boards.

    WARNING: Failure to securely seat the Voice Bonnet may cause electric shock, short, or start a fire, and lead to serious injury, death, or damage to property.Building voice kit hardware using AI 13

    Loosen screws

    Grab your 2mm screwdriver and loosen the two bottom screws of the screw terminal so that you can insert the speaker wires.Building voice kit hardware using AI 14

    Insert speaker wires

    Take your speaker and find the red and black wires attached to it. Insert the red wire into the bottom slot of the left-most terminal and gently push it in as far as you can. Do the same for the black wire in the second terminal from the left.

    What are the speaker wires for? The red and black wires transmit electrical signals which are converted to sound by the speaker.Building voice kit hardware using AI 15

    Secure wires

    Secure the wires by using your 2mm screwdriver to turn the screws clockwise.

    WARNING: Failure to secure the wires or leaving wires exposed may cause electric shock, short, or start a fire, and lead to serious injury, death, or damage to property.Building voice kit hardware using AI 16

    Add boards to the frame

    Now that your speaker is connected to the terminals, we can put the boards into the internal frame.

    Slide the boards into the internal frame you folded earlier. The board slides into a slot that looks like a mouth 😮Building voice kit hardware using AI 17

    Check board alignment

    The microphones on the left and right edges of the board (circled in white) should be outside the internal frame.Building voice kit hardware using AI 18

    Insert speaker

    Slide the speaker down into the internal frame.

    WARNING: The speaker contains magnets and should be kept out of reach of children and may interfere with medical implants and pacemakers.Building voice kit hardware using AI 19

    Check that the speaker is secure

    Make sure the speaker is snug and secure.

    Now that your electrical hardware is secure on the cardboard frame, let’s build the box it goes into.Building voice kit hardware using AI 20

    PUT IT ALL IN THE BOX

    Open the speaker box

    Find the speaker box cardboard and pop it open by squeezing along the edges of the box.Building voice kit hardware using AI 21

    Fold flap A

    Fold flap A down into the box.Building voice kit hardware using AI 22

    Fold flaps B and C

    Then fold flaps B and C down into the box.Building voice kit hardware using AI 23

    Fold flap D

    Lastly, fold flap D down, pressing until it locks into place.Building voice kit hardware using AI 24

    Check the box bottom

    The bottom should be secure. In the next step we’ll bring it all together.Building voice kit hardware using AI 25

    Slide the internal frame inside

    Slide the internal frame into the speaker box. Make sure the speaker is lined up with the side of the cardboard box that has circular holes.Building voice kit hardware using AI 26

    Check alignment of internal frame

    Once it’s in, check the sides of the internal frame. There should be more space between the internal frame and the right side of the speaker box.

    Yours looks different? If the inside of your box looks different, you might need to fold the internal frame the other way. Check step 7 in fold the internal frame for more help.Building voice kit hardware using AI 27

    Check connectors

    Make sure the connectors are lined up with the cardboard cutouts. The connectors are used to plug in things like your SD card and power.

    WARNING: Forcing connectors into misaligned ports may result in loose or detached connectors. Loose wires in the box can cause electric shock, shorts, or start a fire, which can lead to serious injury, death or damage to property.

    Yours looks different? If your connectors don’t line up, you may have inserted the internal frame the wrong way. Check step 26 in put it all in the box for more help.Building voice kit hardware using AI 28

    ADD THE BUTTON

    Gather your pieces

    It’s time to add the button. From your kit, round up the:

    • Push button
    • Button nut
    • Button harnessBuilding voice kit hardware using AI 29

      Insert the push button

      Insert the push button into the hole on the top of your cardboard box.Building voice kit hardware using AI 30

      Orient the button

      On the other side, orient the button so that the side with four prongs is on the top (check the photo).Building voice kit hardware using AI 31

      Screw on the button nut

      Screw on the button nut to secure the button in place.

      Make sure the wider, flanged side of the nut is facing the cardboard flap.

      Make sure your button is still oriented so the four prongs are on top.Building voice kit hardware using AI 32

      Plug in your wires

      Now it’s time to plug in the wires on the button harness. Take the button harness and find the end with six individually colored wires.

      Plug each of those wires in the correct slot by matching its color to the image.

      • Top row: blue and green
      • Middle row: grey and black
      • Bottom row: red and orangeBuilding voice kit hardware using AI 33

        Check wires

        Double-check to make sure your wires are plugged in the same way as the image.Building voice kit hardware using AI 34

    Find the 8-pin connector on the Voice Bonnet

    To plug in the button harness, first find the 8-pin connector on your Voice Bonnet board, outlined in a white rectangle in the photo.

    With the speaker facing away from you, plug the black wire into the top-right slot. Plug the blue wire into the top-left slot. Double check to make sure this is correct.

    WARNING: Failure to securely seat the connector may cause electric shock, short, or start a fire, and lead to serious injury, death, or damage to property.Building voice kit hardware using AI 35

    Fold the top flaps

    Close your box by folding down the top flaps.Building voice kit hardware using AI 36

    Tuck in the tab

    Secure the box by tucking in the tab.Building voice kit hardware using AI 37

    Insert the SD card

    The SD card is pre-loaded with all the software you need.

    With the arrow side facing up, insert your SD card into the silver slot on the Raspberry Pi, which you can find through the cardboard cutout labeled SD Card.Building voice kit hardware using AI 38

    Congrats, you’ve just assembled the Voice Kit hardware!

    Now you’re ready to connect your kit to the Google Assistant.Building voice kit hardware using AI 39

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