What is Alexa?
Alexa is Amazon’s cloud-based voice assistant. It powers smart devices like
Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show, allowing users to interact via voice commands
What Can Alexa Do?
• Answer questions (weather, news, general knowledge)
• Control smart home devices (lights, thermostats, etc.)
• Play music, podcasts, or audiobooks
• Set reminders, alarms, and timers
• Shop on Amazon (reorder items, add to cart)
• Integrate with third-party skills (like ordering pizza or calling an Uber)
How Does It Work?
• You say the wake word: "Alexa"
• It records your command
• Sends the audio to Amazon's servers
• Uses NLP (Natural Language Processing) to understand the request
• Responds with an answer or action
Tech Behind It
• Cloud-based AI and machine learning
• Far-field voice recognition
• Smart home APIs and Alexa Skills Kit (ASK)
What is Alexa in Embedded Terms?
Alexa is an embedded voice assistant system built into smart devices like
Amazon Echo. These devices are embedded systems: combinations of hardware and
software designed to perform a dedicated function, which in this case is voice
interaction and cloud-based task execution.
Alexa Device Architecture (Embedded View)
1. Hardware Layer
This includes:
• Microprocessor/SoC (e.g., ARM Cortex-A): Runs the main software stack.
• Microphones (Far-field array): Used for voice capture from a distance.
• Speaker & DAC: For audio output (speech, music).
• Connectivity modules: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
• Flash memory & RAM: Stores firmware, skills, and temporary audio buffers.
• GPIO/I2C/SPI/UART: May be used for debugging or controlling external
peripherals.
2. Operating System Layer
• Typically runs a lightweight Linux-based OS (Amazon uses Fire OS, a fork of
Android/Linux).
• Includes kernel, drivers (for audio, network, USB), and middleware.
3. Firmware / Software Stack
• Voice trigger engine: Detects wake word (“Alexa”) using DSP or ML models.
• Audio pre-processing: Noise cancellation, beamforming, echo cancellation.
• Alexa Client SDK: Manages communication with the cloud.
• Skills framework: Custom apps/skills run on top (using ASK – Alexa
Skills Kit).
4. Cloud Services
• Devices send voice data to the cloud, where Amazon’s servers:
◦ Process speech to text (ASR)
◦ Understand intent (NLP)
◦ Generate responses
• Result is sent back to the device to speak out or act (like turning on a light).
Embedded Interaction Flow
User speaks → Mic array → Voice detection firmware → Audio buffer →
Wi-Fi transmission → Cloud processing → Response → Audio output or IoT control
Embedded Development Opportunities
• Build custom Alexa-compatible hardware (using Alexa Voice Service SDK)
• Interface Alexa with microcontrollers or edge devices (via MQTT, REST, or
IoT protocols)
• Create Alexa Skills that trigger embedded devices (e.g., home automation
systems)
• Work on low-power voice wake detection systems (e.g., DSP or ML models on
ARM Cortex-M)
Build custom Alexa-compatible hardware (using Alexa Voice Service SDK)
Hardware
• ReSpeaker 2-Mics Pi HAT is a dual-microphone expansion board
for Raspberry Pi designed for AI and voice applications. This means that you
can build a more powerful and flexible voice product that
integrates Amazon Alexa Voice Service, Google Assistant, and so on
• A Linux-based embedded system (e.g., Raspberry Pi 3B+, ARM Cortex-A
board)
• Speakers/headphone jack for audio output
Software
• AVS Device SDK (C++ SDK provided by Amazon) to build custom Alexa-
compatible hardware. The Alexa Voice Service (AVS) SDK is . This SDK
provides access to cloud-based Alexa services, allowing devices to process
audio, establish persistent connections, and handle various Alexa
functionalities.
• Linux OS (Debian, Ubuntu, or custom Linux).
• Dependencies: CMake, GCC, ALSA, GStreamer, curl, SQLite, etc.
Note :
• while using alexa use a smart device compatible devices like bulb, fan, AC to
make the as automated, otherwise use smart plug
Building custom Alexa-compatible hardware on Raspberry Pi 3B+
using the Alexa Voice Service (AVS) SDK
• Headphone mic/speaker (not ReSpeaker HAT)
• C language wherever possible
• ALSA-based audio setup
• Raspberry Pi 3B+ running Linux
Final Result
A fully functional Alexa smart speaker built on Raspberry Pi 3B+, using:
• Your own headset mic/speaker
• AVS SDK to interact with Alexa cloud
• Mostly C-based environment (except core AVS SDK, which is C++)
1. Prepare Raspberry Pi
Install Raspberry Pi OS (Lite or Full):
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
$ sudo apt install -y git cmake build-essential \
libasound2-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libnghttp2-dev \
libssl-dev libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev \
libsqlite3-dev python3-pip
2. Connect Headset Mic + Speaker
Plug in your USB headset or combo 3.5mm jack.
Then test:
$ arecord -l # find mic device (e.g., card 1, device 0)
$ aplay -l # find speaker device
Example result:
card 1: Headset [USB Headset], device 0: USB Audio
3. Test Audio via ALSA
Test speaker:
$ aplay -D plughw:1,0 /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav
Test mic:
$ arecord -D plughw:1,0 -f cd test.wav
$ aplay test.wav
If these work, your audio setup is ready.
4. Download AVS Device SDK
$ mkdir ~/alexa && cd ~/alexa
$ git clone https://github.com/alexa/avs-device-sdk.git
$ mkdir sdk-build sdk-install db
5. Build SDK Without PortAudio (ALSA Only)
$ cd sdk-build
$ cmake ../avs-device-sdk \
-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=DEBUG \
-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=../sdk-install \
-DPORTAUDIO=OFF \
-DGSTREAMER_MEDIA_PLAYER=ON \
-DSENSORY_KEY_WORD_DETECTOR=OFF
Then compile:
$ make -j$(nproc)
$ make install
6. Register Your Device on Amazon Developer Portal
1. Go to: https://developer.amazon.com/alexa/console/avs
2. Register a product (type: "Device with Alexa Built-in")
3. Note:
• Product ID
• Client ID
• Client Secret
4. Create security profile
7. Create Configuration JSON
Go to:
$ cd sdk-build/Integration/AlexaClientSDKConfig
Use the script:
$ bash generate.sh <client-id> <client-secret> <product-id> \
~/alexa/db ~/alexa/sdk-install /home/pi/alexa/logs \
> AlexaClientSDKConfig.json
Edit the JSON:
• Set mic/speaker device name if needed (e.g., plughw:1,0)
8. Run the Sample App
$ cd ~/alexa/sdk-build/SampleApp/src
$ ./SampleApp ../../Integration/AlexaClientSDKConfig/AlexaClientSDKConfig.json
../../resources
You’ll be given a code and a link. Open in browser, log into Amazon, and authorize
the device.
Once registered, you can say:
"Alexa, what's the weather?"
OPTIONAL: Use C Code to Control GPIO
You can write a C program to control LEDs or relays from Alexa routines.
For example:
• When you say: "Alexa, turn on light"
• Your C program triggers a GPIO pin
Approach:
1. Setup MQTT or named pipe (mkfifo) between AVS SDK and your C code
2. Listen for skill/routine from Alexa in a shell/C bridge
3. Toggle GPIO in C
Example (C controlling GPIO via sysfs):
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
int main() {
int fd = open("/sys/class/gpio/export", O_WRONLY);
write(fd, "17", 2); close(fd);
fd = open("/sys/class/gpio/gpio17/direction", O_WRONLY);
write(fd, "out", 3); close(fd);
fd = open("/sys/class/gpio/gpio17/value", O_WRONLY);
write(fd, "1", 1); close(fd); // turn ON
sleep(5);
fd = open("/sys/class/gpio/gpio17/value", O_WRONLY);
write(fd, "0", 1); close(fd); // turn OFF
return 0;
}
Summary
Component Your Setup
OS Linux (Raspberry Pi OS)
Audio input/output Headset mic/speaker (USB/3.5mm)
Audio driver ALSA (no PortAudio)
AVS SDK CMake + C++
Cloud connection Alexa Voice Service
Wake word detection Not included (can add later)
Component Your Setup
GPIO hardware control Done in C
ALSA stands for Advanced Linux Sound Architecture. It is the core sound system
in Linux that handles audio input and output, including:
• Playing audio (e.g., through speakers/headphones)
• Capturing audio (e.g., from microphones)
• Mixing audio streams
• Managing audio devices (USB mics, onboard audio, HDMI, etc.)
Why ALSA is Important in Embedded Systems?
In embedded Linux projects (like on Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone), ALSA is often
used because:
• It works without a desktop environment
• It supports command-line tools like aplay, arecord
• It allows direct, low-level control of audio devices
• It integrates well with custom drivers and kernel modules
ALSA Components
Component Description
aplay CLI tool to play audio files via ALSA
arecord CLI tool to record audio from mic
alsamixer Terminal-based GUI to control volume/mixer
.asoundrc Config file for device defaults or routing
plughw:X,Y ALSA device spec: card X, device Y (used in apps)
Example Use
Play audio:
$ aplay -D plughw:1,0 sound.wav
Record audio:
$ arecord -D plughw:1,0 -f cd test.wav
