M5Stack ATOM Echo and microwakeword

JRJSmith · March 2, 2025, 8:01pm

Hello all,

Kevin Ahrendt’s microwakeword appears to improve wake word performance on ESP32-S3-BOX devices.

Has anyone managed to install microwakeword on the M5Stack ATOM Echo?
If so, can you please provide guidance on how to do this, please?

Of course, it is possible that the ESP32 Pico (as the M5STack ATOM Echo uses) isn’t capable of supporting microwakeword.

Many thanks and best regards
Joe.

Nick4 · March 2, 2025, 10:57pm

Hi Joseph, with this code you can use on-device wakewords for the little Echo

github.com/esphome/wake-word-voice-assistants

m5stack-atom-echo/m5stack-atom-echo.yaml

5a2aff4b9

substitutions:
  name: m5stack-atom-echo
  friendly_name: M5Stack Atom Echo
  micro_wake_word_model: okay_nabu  # alexa, hey_jarvis, hey_mycroft are also supported

esphome:
  name: ${name}
  name_add_mac_suffix: true
  friendly_name: ${friendly_name}
  min_version: 2025.2.0

esp32:
  board: m5stack-atom
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    version: 4.4.8
    platform_version: 5.4.0

logger:
api:

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JRJSmith · March 4, 2025, 8:23pm

Nick4:

substitutions:
  name: m5stack-atom-echo
  friendly_name: M5Stack Atom Echo
  micro_wake_word_model: okay_nabu  # alexa, hey_jarvis, hey_mycroft are also supported

esphome:
  name: ${name}
  name_add_mac_suffix: true
  friendly_name: ${friendly_name}
  min_version: 2025.2.0

esp32:
  board: m5stack-atom
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    version: 4.4.8
    platform_version: 5.4.0

logger:
api:

Hi Nick4,

Many thanks for your helpful response and the example YAML. I’ll try it out and confirm whether it works for my setup.

Best regards
Joe.

JRJSmith · March 7, 2025, 11:40am

I have to admit to being completely dumb.

I thought that this YAML needs to be saved to /config/esphome/m5stack-atom-echo.yaml. How does this alter the firmware that is installed on the M5Stack ATOM Echo? Also, does there need to be a separate .yaml file saved in this folder for each ATOM Echo device?

I acknowledge that I must be missing something (probably a lot of somethings) in my understanding of how this works. Is there any comprehensive description that I ought to be referring to, please?

Many thanks
Joe.

Nick4 · March 7, 2025, 12:02pm

For simplicity: the code ends up there.
You have to use the ESPHome builder program.
From https://esphome.io/ → Ready-Made Projects

I have to admit that I have struggled this week too in getting an ESP programmed.
ESPHome is a very nice tool to use those micro-controllers and if you plan to do more with it, I strongly advice you to invest some time in understanding the process.

The other option is to give up and a wonderful world of endless possibilities will remain closed for you…

EDIT: I was interrupted and didn’t finish that sentence about the ready made projects.
There you can find an easy procedure to get the Echo running.

JRJSmith · March 7, 2025, 12:55pm

Hi Nick,

Many thanks for your quick response.

I’ve read the ESPHome material in the past but I will do so again - I suspect that it’s a moving feast.

I have to congratulate the developers for the wide range of capabilities that ESPHome seems to offer so; no I won’t give up but I will re-read everything that I can find to attempt to build a better understanding.

Many thanks for your assistance, Nick.

Best regards
Joe.

JRJSmith · March 10, 2025, 2:18pm

Hi Nick,

ESPHome Builder was the “magic sauce”.

I have been using ESPWebTool running under the Chrome browser to install and configure all of my ESP32 devices. i tried to use this for the M5Stack ATOM Echo but couldn’t make any meaningful progress.

Your response that I have to use the ESPHome Builder program provided the Eureka moment.

Many thanks to you and to the folks that gave us the ESPHome Builder.

Best regards
Joe.