Meta Description: Follow our step-by-step guide to build a custom Miss Minutes voice assistant using Raspberry Pi Zero W for an engaging DIY project.

Introduction

Are you a fan of Marvel’s “Loki” series and the charming AI character, Miss Minutes? Imagine bringing her to life as your very own voice assistant! In this guide, we’ll walk you through creating a DIY Voice Assistant inspired by Miss Minutes using the versatile Raspberry Pi Zero W. This project not only offers a fun and creative experience but also results in a functional voice-controlled assistant that can interact with your devices seamlessly.

Materials You’ll Need

Before diving into the build, gather the following supplies to ensure a smooth assembly process:

Raspberry Pi Zero W: The heart of your voice assistant.
USB Sound Card: For audio input and output.
Collar Microphone: Fits perfectly within Miss Minutes’ nose.
Desktop Speaker: USB-powered for easy setup.
3D Printer & Filaments: For printing the Miss Minutes enclosure.
Additional Components:
3D Printer Upgrades
Orange, Black, and White Filaments
OTG Adapter
Female DC Jack
5V DC Adapter
Male Audio Jack
Glue Gun

Pro Tip: You can purchase these components from HeyBlue for a convenient DIY experience.

Step 1: Designing and Printing the Miss Minutes Enclosure

Start by creating the physical shell for your assistant. Using a 3D modeling tool like Fusion 360, modify existing Miss Minutes models to suit your needs. Once your design is ready:

Slice the Model: Import the STL file into Cura and prepare it for printing.
Multi-color Printing: Enhance the appearance by switching filaments during the print. For example:
– Initial Layers: Orange filament
– Middle Layers: Black and White filaments for detailing
Post-Processing: After printing, carefully remove support materials and refine the colors using markers to achieve a polished look.

Step 2: Setting Up the Raspberry Pi Zero W

The Raspberry Pi Zero W will serve as the brain of your voice assistant. Here’s how to set it up:

Install Raspberry Pi OS: Flash the OS onto an SD card and SSH into your Pi using tools like PuTTY.
Configure Audio:
– Connect the USB sound card via an OTG adapter.
– Attach the collar microphone and desktop speaker.
– Use commands like lsusb, arecord -l, and aplay -l to verify connections.
Adjust Audio Settings: Edit the .arecordrc file to specify your microphone and speaker settings, then adjust the volume with alsamixer.

Step 3: Installing Google Assistant SDK

Leverage Google’s powerful voice recognition by installing the Google Assistant SDK:

Create a Google Cloud Project: Enable the Google Assistant API and download your credentials.
Install Dependencies:
bash sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install python3-dev portaudio19-dev libffi-dev libssl-dev python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-assistant-sdk[samples]
Authorize Your Device: Use the google-oauthlib-tool to obtain the necessary credentials.

Step 4: Configuring the Assistant to Run on Startup

Ensure your voice assistant activates automatically when the Raspberry Pi boots:

Modify the pushtotalk.py Script: Clone the repository and adjust the script to enable continuous listening without a trigger word.
Set Up Autostart:
bash sudo nano /etc/rc.local
Add the following line before exit 0:
bash sudo -H -u pi python3 /path/to/pushtotalk.py &
Enable Network Wait at Boot: Use sudo raspi-config to configure the Pi to wait for an internet connection before starting the assistant.

Step 5: Assembling the Final Components

With all individual parts ready, it’s time to assemble everything into the Miss Minutes enclosure:

Position the Components: Arrange the power supply, Raspberry Pi, sound card, microphone, and speaker within the 3D-printed shell.
Secure the Parts: Use soldering and hot glue to keep everything in place.
Finalize the Enclosure: Add heat inserts and secure the back cover to complete the assembly.

Final Thoughts

Building your own Miss Minutes voice assistant is a rewarding project that combines creativity with technology. While the current setup offers robust functionality, there are always enhancements to consider:

Portability: Integrate a battery pack to make your assistant mobile.
Custom Trigger Words: Improve responsiveness by implementing a unique wake word.
Enhanced Accuracy: Fine-tune the microphone settings to reduce background noise interference.

Embarking on this DIY Voice Assistant project not only results in a functional gadget but also deepens your understanding of voice-controlled technologies and Raspberry Pi capabilities.

Ready to take your voice assistant to the next level? Discover more innovative projects and advanced voice-controlled solutions at HeyBlue!