Raspberry Pi as a stand-alone single board computer cannot do wonders, but adding accessories and a set of libraries, the fruit named device can be transformed into a magical tool able for a wide range of applications especially in robotics. In robotics can be used a variety of methods for interaction with robots starting with simple sensors such as a light sensor, and up to vision software able to detect and track objects, or using speech recognition applications.
Jasper is a library designed to work on Raspberry Pi as long as is added a set of accessories such as a microphone and a speaker. With modules able to work with applications such as Gmail, applications for time, weather, or to deal with websites for news, the Jasper becomes a powerful tool able to be available in the list with tools that you need to know if you work with Raspberry Pi.
main.py is the program that orchestrates all of Jasper
With a comprehensive documentation and a growing community, the Jasper allows developers to develop application fast and easy for robots able to talk and understand what humans say.
You: “Jasper”
Jasper: high beep
You: speak your command
Jasper: low beep
Jasper: speaks the response
After installing the library, you have to understand how the client code is engineered and how to use the functions of the Jasper. A set of functions are designed for specific tasks including here the Pocketsphinx functionality fully compatible with Python and able to perform speech recognition, or the eSpeak program used for voice function. Other functionalities are the Phonetisaurus and CMUCLMTK designed to generate dictionaries and language models based on the custom module vocabularies.
The Jasper can work only on Raspberry Pi Model B and requires additional hardware such as:
- Speakers
- Akiro Kinobo USB Microphone
- 4GB SD Card
- Airlink Mini-USB Adapter
- Micro-USB Cable
- Ethernet Cable
- USB Wall Charging Adapter
Developer API
Using a series of APIs you can access all the functionalities of the Jasper and start building programs to create your own voice-command application to control robots by talking to them.
Using the documentation, you can easily explore the standard and notification modules ready to hear your words and send commands to the robot using the Raspberry Pi platform.
Think that you can build a robot able to check your email, check your Facebook wall, and play your playlists from the Spotify just by speaking your commands.