have some amazing built-in (via
the cloud) capabilities as does Jibo,
but the Echo and the tiny Echo Dot,
and even the ‘portable’ Amazon Tap
have this capability in a package that
is separate from a smartphone or
computer.
Yes, Jibo has the voice-interacting
ability within its structure, but it is
quite large compared to the Amazon
products and is an intelligent entity
within its own right. I assume with a
large enough platform, Jibo would
look super cool mounted atop a
mobile robot — much the same as
R2D2 mounted behind Luke Skywalker
in his X-wing fighter as in Figure 11.
There is also another new Wi-Fi
product that has access to Alexa: the
Invoxia Triby shown in Figure 12 that
was designed as a talking refrigerator
magnet of sorts. Operating from its
own VoIP network, it has been around
for a while and has most of the
features of the Echo. It even uses the
Alexa speech recognition system. It
does have an LCD display that can be
used as a family message note board
and a built-in FM radio.
The Original Amazon
Echo and the New
Echo Dot in Robots
All three of the Amazon Echo
products have the ability to
communicate via the cloud to Alexa,
and can be powered through a robot’s
power system that can supply 15 volts
via the 3. 5 MM port for the original
Echo, or five volts (really 6+ volts) for
the Dot and Tap via the micro USB
— and particularly the small tuna/cat
food can sized half pound Dot —
especially useful for voice control of a
robot.
However, just because the Echo
devices can communicate via the
cloud and have pleasant feedback via
the Alexa voice, does not make them
simple and immediately workable
additions for a mobile robot. (I have
left the new Amazon Tap out of this
discussion, even though it is battery
powered and smaller than the Echo.)
I am sure that SERVO readers
have either used or read about these
new verbally accessed personal
assistants, so I will jump into possible
uses of the Echo (and especially the
smaller Dot) for mobile robots. I had
to order my Dot the end of February
using the Alexa app and my original
Echo, and for some reason the Dot’s
delivery was delayed by Amazon until
just before I had to submit this article.
I had to quickly put it through its
paces, and will continue more testing
for a future article on an actual robot
platform. I can easily see it used on
something as small as a Parallax
ActivityBot.
A user of the Echo and Dot will
immediately see that part of the light
ring atop the devices will ‘point’
The larger Echo requires 15 VDC
at over an amp, though it did work
okay for me at 12 VDC. Its sound
output is through a tweeter and
separate woofer that needs a bit more
current for heavy bass music and
sounds.
Dot and Echo’s Use
with a Robot
You will need to set up your Echo
using an Amazon Echo app from the
App Store such as one for iOS or
SERVO 07.2016 63
Figure 12. Triby — Wi-Fi communications
device for the home.
Figure 11. R2D2 is Luke Skywalker's buddy in his X-wing fighter.
Figure 9. Google Home.
Figure 10. The Amazon
Echo series.