Build Your Own Amazon Echo with Raspberry Pi: Expert DIY Guide

In today's smart homes and offices, voice assistants streamline daily tasks. While off-the-shelf devices like Amazon Echo are popular, crafting your own delivers unmatched customization. Drawing from hands-on experience with Amazon's Alexa Voice Service (AVS), this guide walks you through building a fully functional Echo using a Raspberry Pi.

Contents

• Materials
• Sign up for an Amazon Developer Account
• Create Your Device on Amazon Developer
• Create Your Security Profile
• Clone the Alexa Sample App
• Update the Installation Script with Your Credentials
• Run the Installation Script
• The Three Terminals
  • Terminal 1
  • Terminal 2
  • Terminal 3
• Test It

Materials

To complete this project, gather these essentials:

• Raspberry Pi 3 or Pi 2 Model B with Micro-USB power cable
• Micro SD card (8GB minimum) – Use NOOBS for easy OS setup; preloaded cards simplify the process
• Mini USB 2.0 microphone
• External speaker with 3.5mm audio cable
• USB keyboard, mouse, and HDMI monitor
• Internet connection (Ethernet or WiFi) – Pi 2 requires a WiFi adapter; Pi 3 has built-in WiFi

Sign Up for an Amazon Developer Account

Create a free Amazon Developer account here. Review and accept the AVS terms and agreements.

Accept the Application Distribution Agreement.

Indicate if you plan to monetize apps.

Create Your Device on Amazon Developer

Log in and navigate to "Alexa Voice Service." Note your Product ID, Client ID, and Client Secret – you'll need them later.

Welcome screen appears next.

Product setup steps:

1. Name your device.

2. Enter a Product ID (no spaces/special characters). Save it securely.

3. Select "Alexa-enabled device."

4. Yes to companion app.

5. Choose "Wireless Speakers."
6. Description: "Raspberry Pi project on Github."
7. Check "Touch Initiation" and "Handsfree."

8. Skip image upload.
9. No to commercial/children's products.

Click "Next."

Create Your Security Profile

Set up a Login with Amazon (LWA) profile for secure authentication.

1. Click "Create New Profile."

2. Name: e.g., "Alexa Security Profile."

3. Description: e.g., "Alexa Security Profile Description."

4. Click "Next." Note generated Client ID and Secret.

6. Add Allowed Origins: "https://localhost:3000" then "https://localhost:3000."

10. Allowed Return URLs: "https://localhost:3000/authresponse" and "https://localhost:3000/authresponse."

Click "Finish."

Clone the Alexa Sample App

1. Open Terminal.

2. Run:

cd Desktop
git clone https://github.com/alexa/alexa-avs-sample-app.git

Update the Installation Script with Your Credentials

Edit automated_install.sh with your Product ID, Client ID, and Client Secret.

1. Run:

cd ~/Desktop/alexa-avs-sample-app
nano automated_install.sh

2. Navigate and replace placeholders.

ProductID="Your Device Name"
ClientID="amzn.xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx"
ClientSecret="4e8cb14xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx6b4f9"

3. Ctrl+X, Y, Enter to save/exit.

Run the Installation Script

cd ~/Desktop/alexa-avs-sample-app
./automated_install.sh

Answer prompts confirming Amazon setup. Installation takes ~30 minutes.

Success looks like this:

The Three Terminals

Run these in separate terminals, in order. Install npm or mvn if missing (links in notes).

Terminal 1

Runs the authorization web service.

cd ~/Desktop/alexa-avs-sample-app/samples
cd companionService && npm start

Keep open; listens on port 3000.

Terminal 2

Handles AVS communication.

cd ~/Desktop/alexa-avs-sample-app/samples
cd javaclient && mvn exec:exec

Approve device registration. Ignore security warnings; log in with developer credentials and grant permissions.

Confirm in dialog.

Terminal 3

Wake word engine (optional for voice activation).

Sensory:

cd ~/Desktop/alexa-avs-sample-app/samples
cd wakeWordAgent/src && ./wakeWordAgent -e sensory

Or KITT.AI:

cd ~/Desktop/alexa-avs-sample-app/samples
cd wakeWordAgent/src && ./wakeWordAgent -e kitt_ai

Test It

Say "Alexa" (wait for beep), then "What time is it?" If it responds, success! Explore more skills on Amazon's Alexa site. Your DIY Echo matches commercial capabilities.