William VE4VR here. Over the long weekend I finally had a chance to try something I've wanted to do for months - connect Google Assistant/Alexa up to amateur radio (simplex, or repeaters).
This prototype is based on using a fresh IRLP hardware setup with a simplex VHF radio attached. I chose this as the starting point because we have a Linux machine and all the radio/sound working.
Once we have a Linux & radio setup, I created a Google developer account and learned how to build Assistant products (smart speakers) but instead of a speaker integrated it with the IRLP platform.
When a radio user presses A[ssistant] or 0[perator] it calls the Assistant and then listens for voice commands. Google responds and talks to IFTTT for custom questions/responses. Wake words might come later but need to be careful with sharing audio hardware.
Once IFTTT processes a custom command it uses a encrypted web command to talk back to the IRLP box and execute commands such as bringing up links to other IRLP stations. With that foundation in place any customization can be done in a browser.
But that's just the beginning of what can be done. Successful tests with sending emails, texts, adding items to list. Notifying people "tell William to get on the WPG repeater". It's pretty cool.
It's like having a virtual net control operator there all the time that knows how to run the repeater system and can answer any question you can think of. Lots of possibilities for amateur radio applications, next up moving this dev setup to a repeater site.
Thanks for Dan VE4DRK for giving me the IRLP board and saying "learn how setup IRLP". We're going to do some great stuff with this here in VE4-land.
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