STMicroelectronics AVS Integration for AWS IoT Core reference design

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STMicroelectronics has released an Amazon-qualified reference design package for smart connected devices leveraging Alexa Voice Service (AVS) Integration for AWS IoT Core, which can be used to create Alexa Built-in products using simple microcontrollers (MCUs). The reference design contains a compact 36 x 65 mm main board that combines a high-performance STM32H743 MCU and Wi-Fi module.

AVS Integration for AWS IoT Core has the ability to transform the way users interact with smart ‘things’, bringing cloud-based Alexa experiences to items such as toasters, cookers, thermostats, blinds, hairdryers and more with no need for significant investment in electronic hardware. ST’s Amazon-qualified solution jump-starts the design of Alexa-enabled appliance controllers, with Alexa voice-user-interface software already integrated on high-performing MCUs of the STM32 family. The energy-efficient STM32, from the 32-bit Arm Cortex-M MCU family, is suitable for small and simple connected devices that require state-of-the-art features such as far-field audio capture and natural-language understanding.

The reference design includes fully developed software that provides the features needed to support Alexa products, including: audio-capture software; Advanced Audio Front End (AFE) with noise reduction, echo cancellation and advanced beam-forming signal processing for far-field audio detection; Amazon ‘Alexa’ Wake Word; connectivity to AWS IoT; and audio output software.

The reference design should enable product designers to certify new end products with AVS faster and more easily than bringing up the entire system independently. Both the hardware and software content can be easily adapted to support individual users’ product concepts.