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Preliminary Research and Documentation

The following research and documentation is meant to get this project started. Please consider this a work in progress. Significant work is needed to move this project forward.

 

Specifications

The following sections describe the specifications for Whole Home Voice Control system.

 

Speech Recognition Platform 

There are multiple speech recognition platforms that are currently in use in the home automation industry. Some of them need a cellular phone to recognize voice commands. This project aims at using standalone devices that can recognize and interpret voice commands and execute a given task.

Speech recognition devices are installed at strategic locations in the SeaPod that can recognize voice commands. For example, a device installed at the main entrance can authenticate a user by speech recognition and open the door and light a lamp automatically. 

 

Hardware Platforms

Raspberry Pi and Arduino are used in most home automation solution. A number of OpenSource code bases and hardware configurations, exist today that an be researched, designed and implemented for SeaPods.

 

Tasks

The following is a basic list of tasks that the Whole Home Voice Control must accomplish

  • Authentication - This feature is important for safety and security of the residents. This will allow the resident to lock or unlock the main entrance of the SeaPod
  • Lighting - This feature controls the lighting, brightness of the room and mood lighting.
  •  Curtains or Blinds - Motorized curtains or blinds are controlled by voice commands.
  • Coffee Machine - Voice command to brew a cup of coffee or tea
  • Entertainment - Voice commands to switch on a TV or a projector, choose a channel and adjust the volume.
  • Water - Voice command to control temperature and flow of water in a shower, kitchen, and toilet flush.
  • Pumps - Voice command to switch on or switch off the water pump.

 

Proposed Name for the Digital Voice Assistant: Cora

The proposed name for voice assistant is Cora. Cora is a given name which is rooted in the Gaelic cora, the comparative of cóir, meaning just, honest, virtuous or good. Common forms of this name include Kora and Korra.

Licensing

This project is being developed as an open-source project with the following licensing: