PiCroft - Build your own Voice Assistant

Introduction

Introduction

Everyone's heard of Amazon Echo and Google Home, but there's another option: Mycroft. Mycroft is an open-source voice assistant project, and you can buy the Mycroft Mark 2 for about two hundred dollars. However, if you don’t want to spend that much or simply want to explore it for fun, you can build your own. This DIY version is called PiCroft because it’s based on a Raspberry Pi. Let’s dive into the details of building your PiCroft.

Parts and Components

Required Parts

To build your PiCroft, you’ll need the following:

• A Raspberry Pi 3 B or B+ (the Pi 2 or Zero just won’t cut it).
• A power supply.
• An SD card with at least 8 gigabytes.
• A USB microphone.
  • The PS3 Eye is a cost-effective option.
• A powered speaker with a 3.5mm connector.
  • USB speakers might work, but compatibility is limited. The Jabra 410 is a supported combination microphone and speaker.

Gathering the Parts

Once you’ve got all the necessary components, it’s time to assemble them.

Setting Up the PiCroft

Download and Write the PiCroft Image

1. Download the PiCroft Image: Visit the Mycroft website and download the PiCroft image.
2. Write the Image: Use a tool like Etcher to write the image to the SD card.
3. Assemble the Hardware: Insert the SD card into your Pi, connect your speaker and microphone, and use an Ethernet cable for internet access. Then, power it up.

Initial Setup

You have two options: use a monitor, keyboard, and mouse directly with your Pi, or access it remotely via SSH.

Setting Up with SSH

1. Find the PiCroft IP Address: Look in your router for a new device or use network scanning tools.
2. SSH Command: Open a terminal and type ssh pi@<your IP address>. The default password is mycroft (all lowercase).
3. Run Setup Wizard: The first boot will give you the option to run through the setup wizard.

Here are key steps in the wizard:

• Audio Setup: Select and test your speaker and microphone.
• Update Pathway: Most users will choose Option 1.
• Root Access: Option 1 is recommended.
• Change Default Password: Optionally change the default password.

Device Pairing and Management

1. Boot into the Mycroft command-line client. You’ll see a pairing code in yellow text.
2. Register Your Device: Go to Mycroft AI Register, log in, and enter your pairing code under Devices.
3. Device Settings: Name your device and set its location.

Configuring Mycroft

Basic Settings

1. Units of Measurement: Choose your preferred units.
2. Voice Settings: Select from local voice options (most private) or a premium voice (costs $ 20/year or $ 2/month).

Advanced Settings

1. Custom Wake Word: You can set a custom wake word and phonemes.
2. Text-to-Speech Engine: Mimic is recommended for privacy, but Google may offer better performance.

Adding Skills

Skill Installation

Explore and install skills directly from the Mycroft skills page.

• Essential Skills: Some skills like Home Assistant and OpenHAB are essential for smart home integration.

Home Assistant Integration

1. Skill Configuration: Enter the IP address where Home Assistant is running and a long-lived access token.
2. Create Token: Generate this token in Home Assistant under your profile.

Mycroft Component for Home Assistant

To enable Mycroft as an output for notifications in Home Assistant, add lines like these to your configuration.yaml file:

mycroft:
  host: <IP-address-of-picroft>
notify:
  - platform: mycroft
    name: mycroft

Demonstration

With PiCroft set up, you can start using voice commands to control devices, retrieve information, and more.

Conclusion

While Amazon Echo and Google Home are superior in voice quality and response time, the PiCroft is a fantastic option for those valuing privacy and customization.

Keywords

• PiCroft
• Mycroft
• Voice Assistant
• Raspberry Pi
• Open Source
• Home Automation
• SSH
• Skills
• Home Assistant
• Speaker
• Microphone

FAQs

Q1: What is PiCroft? A: PiCroft is an open-source DIY voice assistant based on the Raspberry Pi, using Mycroft software.

Q2: Can I use any Raspberry Pi for PiCroft? A: No, you need at least a Raspberry Pi 3 B or B+; the Pi 2 or Zero won't work efficiently.

Q3: What peripherals do I need for PiCroft? A: You'll need a power supply, an 8GB SD card, a USB microphone, and a powered speaker with a 3.5mm connector.

Q4: How do I register my PiCroft device? A: After booting, use the pairing code from the Mycroft command-line client to register your device at the Mycroft website.

Q5: Can I customize the wake word for PiCroft? A: Yes, you can set a custom wake word and define its phonemes in the Advanced Settings section.

Q6: Is there support for Home Assistant? A: Yes, there's a Home Assistant skill that lets you control devices and scenes through PiCroft.

Q7: How can I improve voice quality? A: While Mycroft offers local and premium voice options, they may not beat the quality of Google Home or Amazon Echo.