Low-Power, Rugged Voice Activation System Could Let Devices ‘Run for Years’

A new development platform is aimed at fostering the development of battery-powered devices offering voice activation with very little power use.

The solution was developed by Vesper, DSP Group, and Sensory. It uses Vesper’s VM1010 piezoelectric MEMS microphone, Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree voice command technology, and DSP Group’s DBMD4 audio processor. According to Vesper CEO Matt Crowley, the system uses so little power it could allow devices “to run for years rather than months without battery replacement.” It also allows for the development of rugged devices for the outdoors, since piezoelectric materials are particularly durable, according to Crowley.

The companies showed off their solution at last week’s CES 2017 event, where the emerging Internet of Things was more prominent than ever. With developers seeking to bring more low-power, connected devices to market and looking for intuitive new means of user interaction, the new solution developed by Vesper, DSP Group, and Sensory could potentially find its way into a range of products to come.