Digi International unveiled at last week’s Embedded World in Nuremberg voice-control software for its ConnectCore family of systems-on-module (SoMs).

ConnectCore Voice Control is integrated, ready-to use software that enables developers to design a voice-based human-machine interface (HMI) and allows users to control device operations with speech. It provides voice processing on edge devices with no cloud connectivity required. This reduces connectivity costs and data-privacy concerns while providing response times of less than 100ms.

The software supports 30 languages and a 60,000-word vocabulary, enabling ConnectCore modules to process voice on edge devices quickly. It also includes a complete tool suite to train new commands and generate custom voice-enabled applications.

While voice processing has long been a primary feature of consumer technology for TVs, vehicles and phones, most applications in transportation, healthcare and retail typically rely on touchscreen interfaces. A glass display, however, can easily break or malfunction in industrial environments, requiring repairs or replacements. Voice command is suitable for these mission-critical applications where touch is not a viable option.

“It is for markets such as transportation for intelligent HMIs moving from touch screen to voice control,” said Andreas Burghart, Digi’s senior product manager. We are working with a partner on this – German company Voice Inter Connect.”

He said the technology was particularly helpful in industrial settings where voice-controlled devices could increase safety by allowing users to focus on important tasks rather than controlling the device through a touch-based GUI.

“Raised on smartphones, today’s users of embedded devices increasingly expect the same type of speech interface they experience in their homes and vehicles,” said Burghart. “But this can be difficult and expensive to develop, particularly in embedded Linux, because it typically requires talented UI developers and special software tools. Digi ConnectCore Voice Control includes everything the developer needs to seamlessly integrate voice control into their devices.”

A software development kit is available at no cost and lets engineers create a proof of concept, demonstrate the voice capabilities and design voice-control features for their ConnectCore-based device. The download includes a single software licence for evaluation and development to anyone who has purchased a ConnectCore 8M Nano development kit previously. For deployment, OEMs purchase additional per-unit licences.

“You can create your own voice-enabled product within minutes,” said Burghart. It is all integrated. It is fully ready to use. And it is available today.”

Digi also announced at the show a partnership with ST Microelectronics to simplify the design of end-to-end products for the industrial, medical and transportation sectors.

“As digital transformation increases the complexity of product design, participating as an authorised STM partner will help enterprises deploy sophisticated IoT that leverages intelligent, connected edge-computing designs,” said Burghart. “In tightly regulated markets such as transportation, healthcare and manufacturing, our expertise and strengths layered on top of STM’s products and technologies will provide organisations with the scalability and compatibility they need to create smarter IoT applications.”

And being previewed at the show was the ConnectCore MP1 family of SoMs using the STM 32MP1 that integrates wifi, Bluetooth and wired connectivity without comprising design flexibility.

“This is a pre-announcement, so not out yet,” said Burghart. “We are starting early customer engagements in July with plans for a November launch, maybe at Electronica.”