This is the robot code, Alexa Skills Kit code, and AWS Lambda code you'll need to control an iRobot Create 2 via voice (and a Raspberry Pi).
This code follows the live-coding streams found at https://twitch.tv/jbnunn, https://twitch.tv/amazonalexa, and the Amazon Alexa Voice + Robotics Youtube Channel.
- This assumes you have Raspberry Pi 4. It is possible to get this working on a Raspberry Pi >= 2B, but it will require more time to build.
- Use a 16GB or 32GB card if possible, but an 8GB mini-SD card will work as well.
Follow the instructions below to install the OS, the Robotic Operating System (ROS), AWS Lambda code, creation of an Alexa Skills Kit skill, and finally the code which will run on your robot to operate it and have it recognize people and objects.
Estimated Time: 15-25 minutes
Follow the instructions to install Raspian Buster and update the core files.
Estimated Time: 90-120+ minutes
You're now ready to install the Robotic Operating System.
Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
Now that ROS is setup on your Raspberry Pi, follow the instructions to install the code to control the robot.
Estimated Time: 15-30 minutes
In this section, you'll need to register an IoT "Thing" and create certificates that will allow secure communication.
Estimated Time: < 30 minutes
Follow the instructions to create an AWS Lambda function and ASK Skill. The Lambda function will receive voice commands from your Echo device (via an Alexa Skills Kit skill), and pass those messages on to the Create 2 robot.
Estimated Time: 5-10 minutes
You're now ready to control the Robot.
Estimated Time: TBD
You have a robot you can control with voice, now we'll add extra functionality to it to make it more useful. Follow the instructions in Chapter 7 to give your robot the ability to detect and people and objects and do facial recognition.
Installing ROS is rarely a cakewalk, but the installation of Raspbian and ROS Melodic was made easier by the blog post at https://www.instructables.com/id/ROS-Melodic-on-Raspberry-Pi-4-RPLIDAR/.