Building a Local Smart Home Voice Assistant With ESPHome!

Everything Smart Home15 minutes read

Home Assistant introduced wake words, a highly requested feature, to their Voice Assistant, emphasizing privacy and local processing during their "year of the voice." The setup includes configuring add-ons for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and wake word detection, with minimal bandwidth usage for the Wake word feature.

Insights

  • Home Assistant introduced wake words as a highly requested feature during their live stream, emphasizing the importance of privacy in setting up a voice assistant locally.
  • The process of configuring the voice pipeline in Home Assistant includes installing essential add-ons for text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and wake word detection, with the Wake Word feature using minimal bandwidth for audio processing.

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Recent questions

  • How can I set up a voice assistant with Home Assistant?

    To set up a voice assistant with Home Assistant, you will need a microphone, a speaker, an ESP, and ESP Home. Configure the default pipeline called "home assistant" in the assist section and install essential add-ons like Piper for text-to-speech, Whisper for speech-to-text, and Open Wake Word for wake word detection. Stream microphone data to the server for processing audio and detecting wake words, using minimal bandwidth.

  • What are the key features of the voice assistant in Home Assistant?

    The voice assistant in Home Assistant offers wake words, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and push-to-talk functionalities. It emphasizes privacy by processing audio locally and using minimal bandwidth. The wake word feature allows for hands-free activation of the voice assistant, enhancing user experience and convenience.

  • What components are required to create a custom ESP 32 microphone?

    To create a custom ESP 32 microphone, you will need an ESP 32 development board, an I2S microphone, and optional components like an amp and speaker. These components work together to capture audio input, process it locally, and interact with the voice assistant in Home Assistant.

  • How does the wake word feature work in Home Assistant?

    The wake word feature in Home Assistant involves streaming microphone data to the server for processing audio and detecting wake words. This feature uses minimal bandwidth, approximately 32 kilobytes per second per device, ensuring efficient and effective wake word detection for hands-free voice assistant activation.

  • What is the primary focus of Home Assistant's voice assistant development?

    Home Assistant's voice assistant development focuses on providing a local and private voice assistant experience for users. By emphasizing privacy and local processing of audio data, Home Assistant aims to offer a secure and efficient voice assistant solution that meets the needs of its users.

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Summary

00:00

"Home Assistant Introduces Wake Words Feature"

  • Home Assistant announced the addition of wake words during their live stream for chapter 4, a highly requested feature.
  • The process of setting up Home Assistant with Voice, including wake words, involves using a microphone, a speaker, an ESP, and ESP Home.
  • Home Assistant focused on adding a voice assistant locally with a strong emphasis on privacy during the "year of the voice."
  • Voice features developed over time, starting with text input for device control, progressing to push-to-talk on ESP Home devices, and now including wake words.
  • Setting up the voice pipeline in Home Assistant involves configuring the default pipeline called "home assistant" in the assist section.
  • Three essential add-ons need to be installed: Piper for text-to-speech, Whisper for speech-to-text, and Open Wake Word for identifying wake words.
  • The Wake word feature in Home Assistant involves streaming microphone data to the server for processing the audio and detecting wake words.
  • The Wake word add-on uses minimal bandwidth, approximately 32 kilobytes per second per device.
  • Configuring the voice pipeline involves selecting the appropriate add-ons for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and wake word detection.
  • Creating a custom ESP 32 microphone involves using an ESP 32 development board, an I2S microphone, and optional components like an amp and speaker.

15:11

Local Voice Assistant Launch: Like & Subscribe

  • Highly anticipated release of a local and private Voice Assistant
  • Encouragement to like the video and subscribe for more content
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